As it happened: 2010 Abu Dhabi - Free Practice 3

• 09:50

  Hello there. How about some impromptu Factbyte Factboxing? This weekend is just too good not to!

• 09:51

  We've had two practice sessions so far, and coming up today we've got 60 seconds of Saturday practice, followed by the final qualifying of the year.

• 09:53

  If you are up and about today, why not join us in the live comments? https://sidepodcast.com/2010/11/13/live-abu-dhabi-2010-free-practice-3/ Or use the very fancy dashboard with integrated tweets. https://sidepodcast.com/dashboard

• 09:55

  If you're in the UK, the BBC are streaming the session: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9185597.stm with 5live commentary from David Croft.

• 09:56

  Autosport will have live text updates minute by minute here: http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/299 And don't forget your live timing: http://www.formula1.com/live_timing/

• 09:56

  Tweet from @MikeGascoyne: Lovely sunny day here in Abu Dhabi, going to be an interesting day

• 09:59

  

  30°C

  Track	43°C
  Humidity	38%
  Wind Speed	2.9mps

• 10:00

  The session has begun!

• 10:00

  Trulli leads the pack out, down that really very worrying looking pit exit. A stream of cars follow him.

• 10:03

  All the drivers have hit the track now, except Button, Hamilton and Kovalainen. They will be out soon, no doubt.

• 10:03

  Ted Kravitz reports from the pitlane that it is incredibly dusty down in the pitlane - so expect lots of drivers to try setting rubber down in this session.

• 10:04

  The Renault car sans wheels. Obviously this was a bit earlier, as both cars have been out on track now.

• 10:05

  As the first runners return to the pitlane, the final few head out. Installation laps all round, it seems. Who will be the first to set an official time?

• 10:06

  Hamilton is on the radio complaining that he's already having a problem with his tyres, and is feeling vibrations.

• 10:06

  The session results so far this weekend:

  Fastest Session Times

  Free Practice 1	Vettel	1:42.760
  Free Practice 2	Hamilton	1:40.888

• 10:07

  x2 McLarens pull up outside the garage and are pushed back inside at the same time. It's like synchronised mechanicing. It'll catch on, I'm sure.

• 10:08

  Tweet from @VirginRacing: Lucas reporting there seems to be more rubber on track, logical after the gp2 race. Timo not sure about pressing the speed limiter...

• 10:08

  What is he not sure about it, I wonder?

• 10:10

  The rather delightful harbour, lots of yachts and a multi-coloured hotel in the background. It's not multi-coloured right now, clearly. Disappointing.

• 10:12

  All drivers have been out for an installation lap now. A bit of a break, but now Di Grassi heads out again. One laptime coming up?

• 10:12

  Things look a bit tense on the Red Bull pit wall.

• 10:13

  Tweet from @rf1paddockpass: Both cars in the garage for now, working on adjustments on Vitaly's car. Both drivers remain in the car.

• 10:15

  In lieu of any laps, Crofty reveals that he and Ant spotted Jerome D'Ambrosio and Eric Boullier discussing something with Virgin bosses post-Brazil. Silly season ahoy!

• 10:15

  Lucas sets the first laptime of the day - 1:48.532.

• 10:17

  The lap record around the Yas Marina circuit (albeit from only one weekend's running) is Sebastian Vettel with a 1:40.279, set in 2009 in a Red Bull.

• 10:18

  Trulli sets a time now, as Lucas improves on his to stay ahead. Glock is also out on track.

• 10:18

  Hamilton is out of the car, surrounded by Whitmarsh and other team members, and the discussions look quite serious.

• 10:22

  Glock has just posted a 1:46 to slip into P1, but we're still waiting for signs of the top teams coming out.

• 10:23

  1:44s on the clock now. Alguersuari ahead. Hulkenberg and Kubica are both out on track.

• 10:25

  The track temperature has actually fallen slightly, now sitting at 40 degrees.

• 10:26

  Kubica and Heidfeld post 1:43s, with the Renault popping to the top of the timesheets. Vettel, Massa and Alonso have all left the garage.

• 10:27

  Button has just left the pitlane as well. Expect the laptimes to begin to fall.

• 10:29

  Schumacher crosses the line for P1 - 1:42.518.

• 10:31

  Alonso is following his teammate around the track. He'll hope not to be doing that during the race!

• 10:31

  Petrov pops up to second, ahead of Kubica. Alonso is currently 4th, with Button 5th. Hamilton remains in the garage.

• 10:32

  Just over half of the session complete. 28 mins to go.

• 10:33

  Tweet from @WilliamsF1Team: The 3 hour offset is v confusing - it's half 2 and we're only doing practice

• 10:33

  Vettel posts a 1:41.721 to jump up to P1.

• 10:34

  Meanwhile, very very far back, Kobayashi has set a time of 1:54.780. That seems woefully off the pace, and thankfully next time round he improves to a 1:46. He's sitting 19th.

• 10:35

  Hamilton has left the garage now, finally. Just he and Kovalainen have yet to set a time today.

• 10:36

  Comment from Alianora La Canta: Cascade wing removed from Nico Hulkenburg's car due to broken carbon fibre.

• 10:38

  Hamilton's first time puts him up in 3rd - 1:41.994. Just Kovi to set a time and we have a full house!

• 10:40

  Schumacher had a broken front wing, the mechanics are crowding round to inspect the damage. The wings are taking a beating today.

• 10:40

  Thanks Heikki, now I can use my new widget!

  Field Spread

  Pos	Driver	Time
  1st	Vettel	1:41.252
  24th	Kovalainen	1:46.948

• 10:41

  Team radio to and from Lewis:"Rear tyres have overheated." "Understood, suggest a slower lap before we go again."

• 10:43

  Vettel and Webber have a Red Bull 1-2 and are both back in the pitlane at the moment. Hamilton also heads back to the garage from 3rd.

• 10:44

  Tweet from @InsideFerrari: Next run will be with soft tyres for everyone.

• 10:45

  A replay shows Alguersuari running pretty wide, and Nico Rosberg locking up considerably. Kobayashi also has a bit of a wobble. The masses of run-off save them all though, and there are no major incidents.

• 10:46

  Senna will be happy that he is 21st while Klien is 24th. About 8 tenths between them as well.

• 10:48

  Tweet from @clubforce: Adrian: in general everything seems more balanced, everywhere is just very low grip

• 10:50

  Vettel is back out on track, hoping to improve on his own P1 time.

• 10:52

  Under ten minutes remaining now, the soft tyres are on, and the top four are out to improve.

• 10:53

  Jaime has some speed today!

  Top Speeds

  Sector 1	Hamilton	294kph
  Sector 2	Alguersuari	314kph
  Sector 3	Hamilton	225kph
  Speed Trap	Alguersuari	316kph

• 10:54

  Alonso has returned to the garage. Only five drivers in the pitlane at the moment. It's busy out there.

• 10:56

  Under four minutes to go, and just the Ferrari drivers are in the garage.

• 10:57

  Trulli has completed the most laps, 19 and counting. Hamilton has the least, having waited so long to come out and struggling with tyres. Just 10 so far for the McLaren driver.

• 10:58

  Ferrari must be happy with their work as they don't look as though they are going to come back out again.

• 10:59

  I was wrong! The Ferrari's have come out. Just one minute to go though, so clearly not for a lap.

• 11:00

  All 24 cars out on track.

• 11:00

  Session complete.

• 11:01

  Button messes up his final hot lap, losing the racing line just ahead of the hotel.

• 11:02

  Senna returns to the pitlane, as the practice starts begin.

• 11:04

  Top Ten

  1	Sebastian Vettel	1:40.696
  2	Mark Webber	1:40.829
  3	Lewis Hamilton	1:41.280
  4	Fernando Alonso	1:41.490
  5	Jenson Button	1:41.578
  6	Vitaly Petrov	1:41.689
  7	Michael Schumacher	1:41.690
  8	Nico Rosberg	1:41.729
  9	Robert Kubica	1:41.877
  10	Nick Heidfeld	1:41.893

• 11:04

  And hey, why not? I have a new widget, and I'm not afraid to use it.

  Field Spread

  Pos	Driver	Time
  1st	Vettel	1:40.696
  24th	Klien	1:46.464

• 11:05

  The drivers begin to filter back into the pitlane, and to the safety of their garages.

• 11:05

  A good hour of work from Red Bull, and Hamilton did the best he could despite tyre trouble throughout. Those top five drivers are in the top five places yet again, so we can read nothing into the session really.

• 11:06

  Further back, Petrov finished a few places ahead of Kubica, and Heidfeld a few ahead of Kobayashi. If this were qualifying, it would be Buemi dropping out in Q1 with the new teams.

• 11:06

  Talking of qualifying, a live thread will be up on Sidepodcast in about half an hour, and I'm hoping to be back and Factbyte Factboxing for you as the BBC begin at mid-day. See you then!