Abu Dhabi - Lewis Hamilton of McLaren-Mercedes was quickest in the first free practice session Friday for the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The 2008 world champion recorded a time of 1 minute 43.939 seconds on the new 5.554-kilometre Yas Marina Ciruit in temperatures touching 35 degrees Celsius.

Newly-crowned drivers' champion Jenson Button of Brawn GP was second fastest with a deficit of 0.096 seconds ahead of the final GP race of the season.

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel was third after registering a time 0.214 seconds slower than Hamilton.

Button secured the world title at the penultimate race in Brazil two weeks ago but the race for second place is still very much alive with Vettel on 74 points, just two ahead of Button's teammate Rubens Barrichello, who finished fourth in the session.(dpa)