Live text
Formula 1
Abu Dhabi GP
F1 Abu Dhabi GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP3 and Qualifying
Saturday's practice and qualifying action from the Yas Marina Circuit
By: Jake Boxall-Legge, Stephen Lickorish, Haydn Cobb
Stopped
- Verstappen grabs pole for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, comfortably beating title rival Hamilton
- Hamilton is over three tenths slower than Verstappen, who doesn't need his final lap
- Bottas has a nightmare in second Mercedes down in sixth as Norris is third
- Out in Q2: Alonso, Gasly, Stroll, Giovinazzi, Vettel
- Out in Q1: Latifi, Russell, Raikkonen, Schumacher, Mazepin
Leaderboard
- Verstappen, Red Bull
- Hamilton, Mercedes
- Norris, McLaren
- Perez, Red Bull
- Sainz, Ferrari
- Bottas, Mercedes
- Leclerc, Ferrari
- Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
- Ocon, Alpine
- Ricciardo, McLaren
Checkered flag
So, a Verstappen and Hamilton front row for the all or nothing F1 title showdown. Who'd have thought? We can't stress this enough, tomorrow's race is not one to miss. The race starts at 1pm GMT (5pm local time). Until then, it is goodbye for today. Stay safe.
Breaking news
Need a recap on what just happened? Look no further:
Verstappen signs the customary mini Pirelli tyre award for pole position, his 10th of the season. How cruical could pole be for the race?
Quote
Norris on starting behind the title fighters: "I am a bit nervous because I want to stay where I am and watch everything unfold over the first few laps or the whole race but I also don't want to get involved too much as it could cause controversy. I don't know whether to go for the move, not go for the move, you tell me?"
Quote
Norris, to arguably the biggest cheers of the day: "It came in Q3 run one and I made some improvements on mistakes and I did a clean lap in the end. I went for pole but it didn't work out! It was a nice lap and P3 was a bit of a surprise."
Quote
Hamilton on starting on mediums against Verstappen on softs: "We are in a good position I would like to think with our tyres for tomorrow. I hope that we can have a good race."
Stopwatch
Hamilton on second place: "Max did a great lap today, we just couldn't compete with that lap. We've got a great crowd here, regardless of the few boos. We just couldn't answer that lap, it was a fantastic lap from him."
Quote
Verstappen on his pole: "It is an amazing feeling, we definitely improved the car again for qualifying as before it was on and off. It was difficult especially with their [Mercedes] form."
Verstappen, naturally, is buzzing with his 10th pole of the season and second pole at the Yas Marina circuit. He hops out of the car and looks ready for the fight tomorrow.
Verstappen's first Q3 lap was enough for pole position and in the end he takes top spot by a sizeable 0.371s. Norris takes third ahead of Perez, then it is Sainz while Bottas is down in sixth.
Checkered flag
Norris pops up to third place for McLaren! But it is Verstappen on pole for the F1 title decider!
...Hamilton puts in a 1m22.480s and does not take pole position! Rest of the laps coming in.
...and still a couple of tenths down in second two...
Hamilton is fractionally down on the pole time in sector 1...
Hamilton leads the train out ahead of Bottas so he has clear air but no slipstream.
Right, all 10 cars back in the pits ahead of the final Q3 runs. All or nothing time.
Strong showing from Ferrari again with Sainz fifth and Leclerc sixth, a tenth or so ahead of Norris.
Perez completes his lap after slipstreaming Verstappen to go third ahead of Bottas. Tsunoda was briefly third but he lost his lap for track limits at Turn 16.
Yes it does! Hamilton goes second with a 1m22.660s. That is a 0.551s gap between the two title contenders.
Perez does indeed pull aside after giving Verstappen the slipstream behind him. The Dutch driver puts in a 1m22.109s, can that get him provisional pole?
First Q3 laps coming up, time for some big laps.
"Let Max do his thing, let him catch us," Perez is told over Red Bull team radio. So it looks like Verstappen will get a team-mate tow.
Green flag
But enough on that for now, as it is Q3 time. Who is your money on for pole position?
The Gasly vs Vettel incident and the Ricciardo vs Alonso incident will both be investigated after qualifying, FIA race control confirms.
It was the mess at the back of the Q2 train that caused the issues. Vettel literally stopped on track to make space, while it looked like Ricciardo and Alonso appeared to make very minor contact tussling for the same bit of track.
Another incident, this time involving Ricciardo and Alonso, has been noted by race control. I hope Michael Masi has a thick notebook.
Ricciardo squeezes into Q3 by 0.012s, that was the gap between him and Alonso in 11th. Also out in Q2: P12 Gasly, P13 Stroll, P14 Giovinazzi, P15 Vettel.
Verstappen will also start the race on the soft tyres as he goes quickest with a 1m22.800s. Both Mercedes will start the race on the mediums, both Red Bulls will start the race on the softs.
Perez on the softs goes quickest with a 1m23.135s - he'll be through to Q3 and start the race on those tyres.
Checkered flag
Hamilton, still on mediums, improves to reclaim top spot with a 1m23.145s. The final laps of Q2 are underway.