Title challenger Lewis Hamilton has topped first practice ahead of Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Hamilton, who needs to overcome a 12-point deficit to retain the title ahead of Rosberg, recorded the fastest lap by 0.374s after posting a time of 1:42.869.

Rosberg just needs to finish fourth or higher in order to win the championship this weekend and finished second behind his teammate, while Red Bull duo Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo were just a tenth behind the championship leader in third and fourth respectively.

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel finished down in fifth position, while Force India's Sergio Perez outpaced Kimi Raikkonen to take sixth spot ahead of the second practice this afternoon.

McLaren driver Jensen Button, who is expected to retire after this weekend's grand prix, had his session cut short with an ERS issue, finishing down in 20th place, two spots behind teammate Fernando Alonso.

First practice standings:

1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
4. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
5. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
6. Sergio Perez (Force India)
7. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
8. Carlos Sainz (Toro Rosso)
9. Felipe Massa (Williams)
10. Marcus Ericsson (Sauber)
11. Alfonso Celis (Force India)
12. Romain Grosjean (Haas)
13. Felipe Nasr (Sauber)
14. Esteban Gutierrez (Haas)
15. Valtteri Bottas (Williams)
16. Jolyon Palmer (Renault)
17. Kevin Magnussen (Renault)
18. Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
19. Pascal Wehrlein (Manor)
20. Jensen Button (McLaren)
21. Jordan King (Manor)
22. Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso)