Summary Yas Marina circuit was the setting for Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton's 2nd world title coronation.
ABU DHABI (AFP) - World champions Mercedes wrapped up the 2014 season in style on Wednesday, topping the times in the closing practice session of the year in Abu Dhabi.
On Sunday the Gulf state s Yas Marina circuit was the setting for Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton s second world title coronation.
Now it was the turn of Mercedes official reserve driver Pascal Wehrlein to take the spotlight, the 20-year-old German topping the times on the second and final day of practice.
His best time of 1min 42.624sec kept him ahead of the pack led by Ferrari s young protege and GP2 race winner Raffaele Marciello on his F1 test debut for the Italian team.
A difficult season for McLaren ended on a low note as the team s reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne was only able to complete a couple of laps due to engine problems with their new Honda unit.
"Although this looked like another difficult day, this is just part of the learning experience..." McLaren racing director Eric Boullier told the sport s official website.
"I d rather be ironing out these problems here in Abu Dhabi than discovering them in Jerez next February."
Marciello described his day out on the circuit as "a dream come true".
"For an Italian, to jump into a Ferrari, at an official test no less, is a really strong emotion and I am grateful to the team for giving me this opportunity."
