2009 world champion Jenson Button topped the timesheets in this afternoon’s final free practice session to finish ahead of fellow Brit Lewis Hamilton and his Brawn teammate, Rubens Barrichello. Sebastien Buemi was fourth followed by Nick Heidfeld, Heikki Kovalainen, Jarno Trulli and Robert Kubica.  

Track temperature was at a very warm 42 degrees for the final hour of free practice here at the new Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi this afternoon and while drivers are quick to take to the track for their first series of installation laps, it isn’t until fifteen minutes into the session that the first time is set and that is by the Ferrari of Giancarlo Fisichella with a 1:48.028.

The track soon comes to life following Fisi’s time and times go down thick and fast. Twenty minutes in and Jarno Trulli goes for a trip across the gravel trap while his current adversary, Adrian Sutil, shoots up to second place behind the McLaren of Heikki Kovalainen. Kimi Raikkonen shoots up to third, Buemi first as times continue to tumble.

Hamilton is on a flyer and moves into P! with Vettel and Webber close behind at the halfway point. Kovalainen soon takes third from Webber with Raikkonen now fifth and Button sixth. Robert Kubica is on a flyer and moves into third and as soon as he is knocked down, he jumps straight back up. Teammate Nick Heidfeld, in 19th place, is stunned at how fast the Polish racer is and is quick to the team as much.  

Sebastien Buemi is on another flyer and takes P1 from Hamilton by a fraction of a second as Sutil moves into third with just over ten minutes remaining in the session.

The top seven drivers return to the circuit for their final runs before this evening’s qualifying session. Hamilton is on a flyer with the fastest first and second sector times to put his McLaren, shod with the softer Bridgestone compound, at the top of the timesheets, over a tenth faster than Buemi. Heidfeld is up to 14^th now while Kubica moves back into third.

The session comes to a close with Button jumping ahead of Hamilton, why is still to cross the line on his final lap. Heidfeld jumps to fourth, Hamilton stays second and Barrichello moves into P3.