Sebastian Vettel thanked Renault for the improved reliability of its engines in recent races after making it to the final race of the season on his original allocation of eight units.
After a spate of failures in the summer, Vettel was expected to have to exceed the quota prescribed by the regulations, thus incurring grid penalties and potentially stunting his bid for world championship.
But although the engine woes were a contributory factor in his title challenge fizzling out, the Red Bull driver pointed out that he had suffered no failures of late, even in Friday practice when he has been using high-mileage units.
“I’d like to say thanks to Renault – many people didn’t believe that we’d succeed without having to change an engine, but here we are having completed a lot of miles on another Friday without a single problem,” he said.
Vettel was fourth fastest in Friday practice in Abu Dhabi, 0.3s off the pace set by McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen, and feels Red Bull is poised for a strong finish to the season.
“Performance-wise, we’re looking quite good,” he said.
“We didn’t know what to expect around here, but it seems as though we’re quite competitive, although we will have to wait to see how competitive.
“Even though it’s a new track, it was a normal Friday practice and we were testing which tyre works best.”
Team-mate Mark Webber did need an engine change between the two practice sessions, but didn’t lose any track time and finished seventh quickest, less than 0.1s adrift of Vettel.
“A productive first day at a new track,” summarised the Australian.
“We had an engine change between P1 and P2 – the guys did a brilliant job to get the car turned around in time.
“Other than that, we got on with the normal tyre comparisons and other tests we do on a Friday – so, although a new track, a normal Friday.
“There was a difference in clarity between driving in the afternoon for P1 and in the early evening during P2 – it’s a different atmosphere when the lights are on, but we’re used to that from Singapore.”