• Hamilton leads second practice after Button fastest in first
• Ferraris head Red Bull of world champion Sebastian Vettel

Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button were the most impressive drivers in practice at the Yas Marina circuit on Friday, proving too hot for Red Bull and Ferrari ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Hamilton finished top of the second, twilight session as Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso came to grief. Hamilton beat Button into second place and the McLarens were followed by the Ferraris of Alonso and Felipe Massa then the Red Bulls of Vettel and Mark Webber.

Vettel and Alonso came off the track at Turn One. Alonso’s accident, in which he broke his rear wing and suspension, caused the session to be halted, though he recovered to finish close behind the McLarens.

The Red Bulls dominated the first part of the session after Force India’s Paul di Resta had been the early leader. By the end of the session the Red Bulls had been the third-fastest cars behind the McLarens and Ferraris.

Button, who has had six podiums including two victories in the past seven races, finished fastest in the first practice session and it was almost another one-two for McLaren, with a late charge from Webber splitting the two cars from the Woking stable.

But it was an unhappy session for Ferrari, with Alonso and Massa spinning off the track. Alonso appeared to have a problem with oversteer and twice ran wide on Turn Eight.

There was a strong drive from Adrian Sutil, whose position at Force India has been the subject of much debate with next year’s contracts due to be announced shortly. Sutil finished seventh in the first session, ahead of Nico Rosberg’s Mercedes, and was eighth with another good drive when the shadows lengthened.

Sport: Motor sport | guardian.co.uk