The Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were one-two in the first practice.
The final weekend of the Formula 1 season got under way with Hamilton 0.220 seconds ahead of the winner.
Liam was in Verstappen's car, but he wasn't involved in the event.
Red Bull'sSergio Perez was the fastest, followed by Charles Leclerc.
The two men are competing for second in the championship and tied on points coming into the weekend, a contest that exposed an internal row at Red Bull in Brazil.
Verstappen's refusal of team orders to cede sixth place to Perez on the final lap at Interlagos has dominated the headlines in Abu Dhabi so far.
Multiple sources have said that Verstappen believes that Perez crashed deliberately in the final stages of Monaco Grand Prix qualification.
The Dutch driver was left fourth on the grid behind Perez, who went on to win the race, because of that.
There is a crisis at Red Bull. Verstappen said in a statement that he made his feelings known at the previous race in Mexico, and the team admitted to mistakes in handling the race in Brazil.
The mistake was not to discuss with Verstappen before the race that they wanted him to help Perez, which he says he will do this weekend.
According to sources within Red Bull, Perez admitted to crashing in Monaco for the sake of the team. The Mexican says that information is incorrect.
A number of young drivers were given opportunities during the first practice session.
In his last grand prix before retirement, Sebastian Vettel was fastest in the Red Bull, but he was behind the fastest man in the race, Lawson.
Everyone on the teams and the media have been asked to join him for a photo after the race, before he runs or walks the track.
Robert Schwarzmann was seventh fastest in Carlos Sainz's car, followed by McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo, Alfa Romeo's Valtteri Bottas, and Williams driver Alex Albon.
If he gets enough licence points in the Formula 2 finale this weekend he will graduate to F1 with Williams.
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