Hamilton fastestposted in F112 | 11 | 2010

FORMER WORLD champ Lewis Hamilton proved he will be a factor in this weekend's Formula One season finale when he topped the timesheets in second practice in Abu Dhabi.

The 2008 champ, 24 points behind the championship leader, outpaced the both Red Bull and Ferrari in his McLaren clocking a fastest lap of 1min 40.888secs, 0.257s quicker than Sebastian Vettel who had been fastest in the morning.

World championship leader Fernando Alosno was third fastest in his Ferrari with Vettel's team-mate Mark Webber fourth. Hamilton's McLaren team-mate Jenson Button was eighth, 1.244s off the pace.

"I'm really, really happy," Hamilton said. "We've been hoping for some time to improve this rear wing of ours, it's not really been working since Suzuka and so we've not really been able to use it.

"We know it's got better potential and finally it's working, so that's a huge plus for us. The car felt good today, I was feeling good in the car. I've been a little bit rundown, a little bit ill, but I'm on some meds now."

Hamilton though warned that Red Bull might still be hard to beat in qualifying at least. Vettel and Webber's team has taken 14 poles in the 18 races so far this year.

"I'm very hopeful. I'm giving 120%," Hamilton continued. "I think the car is generally quick. Tomorrow is still going to be tough; the Red Bulls are still going to pull out maybe half a second in qualifying, but we are closer than we have been."

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Jim McGill