PRACTICE: Hadjar quickest ahead of title rival Bortoleto

Isack Hadjar started the final Formula 2 weekend in the best manner possible, topping Free Practice around the Yas Marina Circuit by two-tenths ahead of direct rival Gabriel Bortoleto.

The Campos Racing driver set a 1:37.817 to end the session quickest, with the Championship leader second and ART Grand Prix’s Victor Martins in third.

With the first of the installation laps in the books, Joshua Duerksen set the early pace for AIX Racing, logging a 1:39.314 in the opening 10 minutes of the session.

Paul Aron was the first of the title contenders to hit the front, putting in a 1:38.950 to take over in P1 but he was quickly usurped by Josep María Martí who went 0.129s quicker. Duerksen then restored himself to first and went three-tenths clear of the pack.

Martí went back to the top as the clock ticked towards the halfway stage, the Campos driver putting in a 1:38.459 while teammate Hadjar put himself third in the order.

The improvements continued to flow as Aron went to P1 once again, 0.073s quicker than Bortoleto. But the pair were beaten by Martins, who lowered the time to beat to a 1:38.082, while compatriot Hadjar slotted in just behind on his next effort, 0.008s down.

Bortoleto then took his turn in P1, setting a 1:38.046 to go narrowly quicker than Martins, with the top four separated by just 0.089s following Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s improvement to P4.

The Red Flags were waving with 15 minutes to go after AIX Racing’s Cian Shields collided with the barriers at Turn 14.

Practice resumed with nine minutes to go and the track was very busy right away as everyone looked to get their final laps in ahead of Qualifying.

There were minor improvements in the top 10 until Hadjar delivered the fastest lap of the session at the chequered flag, 1:37.817 putting him on the front foot going into Qualifying.

Bortoleto was second with Martins in third. Aron wound up fourth for Hitech Pulse-Eight while Joshua Duerksen rounded out the top five for AIX Racing.

Qualifying around Yas Marina is set to get underway at 15:00 local time.