Hamilton dips into UAE culture amid fastest Abu Dhabi practice finish

Lewis Hamilton paid tribute to Emirati culture as he donned a “kandora” - traditional white robes worn by men from the UAE - prior to finishing the fastest in Friday practice sessions ahead of Formula One’s Abu Dhabi title showdown.

The Briton, 12 points behind the championship favorite going into the final race, lapped the Yas Marina circuit with a quickest time of one minute 42.869 seconds in the early afternoon, when he also had a harmless spin.

The triple world champion then clocked 1:40.861 in the floodlit evening practice.

Rosberg, who need only finish in the top three on Sunday to be sure of his first championship after being beaten in the last two years by Hamilton, was second in both sessions - 0.374 slower in the first and 0.079 off in the second.

“It’s been a great day,” Hamilton told reporters. “Generally very smooth with no real issues...we got a lot of work done both on the short and long runs. I’m really happy with the car and we’re in a good position for tomorrow.”