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Formula 1
Abu Dhabi GP
F1 Abu Dhabi GP Live Updates - race day
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Stroll, closing in on Vettel, locks up at Turn 11 and runs wide. That's cost him a couple of seconds and really not what Racing Point needed.
Russell is up to 14th having got ahead of Giovinazzi, who is yet to stop in this race, and the Williams driver is now chasing down Raikkonen.
Radio Comms
Bottas, meanwhile, has got back within the 5s window of Verstappen, who says on the radio that "tyre management might be difficult".
Hamilton's just trying to reel Bottas in, asking about his team-mate's current situation. The seven-time champion wants to try something different, but Albon's keeping Mercedes honest just 5s behind.
Pit stop
Leclerc is duly allowed to pit by Ferrari on lap 23, dropping him to last place.
Radio Comms
"We are going to lose a lot more by staying out five more laps," Leclerc tells his Ferrari squad. He's become a moving chicane as Ocon is the latest driver to overtake him, yet again in the run to Turn 8 with the aid of DRS.
A lap later Gasly also gets ahead of Leclerc, diving up the inside of the Ferrari driver at Turn 8, to take 10th place.
At least, Norris HAD got back within DRS range - but Ricciardo's found something extra to crowbar open the gap again. As you were.
Stroll answers the call as he gets ahead of Leclerc around the outside before braking for Turn 8 and ensures the move sticks by defending into Turn 11.
Radio Comms
"If we can get through Ricciardo, it makes our race easier," Norris is told. He's got back within DRS range of Ricciardo now.
Stroll is still stuck behind Leclerc in ninth place and now has Gasly directly behind him. Racing Point will be desperate for their driver to clear the Ferrari if it is to keep hold of third place in the constructors' standings.
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Sainz has been placed under investigation for driving unnecessarily slowly in the pitlane during the safety car period. Not that it is bothering the McLaren driver at the moment as he gets by Vettel for seventh at Turn 11.
Verstappen's now 2.4s clear of Bottas at the front. Hamilton's a further 1.8s behind.
Not pitting under the safety car looks like it is hurting Leclerc as Stroll charges by at Turn 8 - only for Leclerc to repay the favour with the aid of DRS between Turns 10 and 11. As you were.
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Stopwatch
Verstappen's comfortable on these tyres, setting a 1m40.958s as he crosses the line to start lap 15.
Sainz gets the best restart as he charges ahead of future Ferrari team-mate Leclerc at Turn 8 to move up to eighth place.
Green flag
Here we go again! Verstappen takes off to get us back underway.
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Safety car will come in at the end of the lap.
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The only drivers not to pit during this safety car period are Ricciardo (P5), Vettel (P7), Leclerc (P8), Giovinazzi (P12) and Magnussen (P15).
Amid the stops, Ricciardo gets up to fifth, as Vettel and Leclerc are up to seventh and eighth having elected not to pit.
Safety car
Now it is a full safety car with the marshals struggling to get Perez's car safely off the side of the track. There's also reports of oil on track.
Yellow flag
Full safety car now.
Radio Comms
"That doesn't feel like a good strategy," says Hamilton. Luckily for him, this race is a dead rubber - pun definitely intended.
Pit stop
Verstappen takes the opportunity to pit for fresh boots. Mercedes follows suit - all three go to the hard tyres, as does Albon.
Safety car
Oh no heartbreak for Perez! His engine gives up on lap 10 which forces him to pull out of the race, which has triggered a Virtual Safety Car period.
Radio Comms
"And now show us your pushing level, try to close that gap," Bottas is told. He's 2.9s adrift of Max.
Two Racing Point overtakes on the same lap at the same corner! On lap eight Stroll dives to the inside of Kvyat at Turn 8 to take 7th, and then Perez copies the move to get ahead of Raikkonen for 14th.
Two Racing Point overtakes on the same lap at the same corner! On lap eight Stroll dives to the inside of Kvyat at Turn 8 to take 7th, and then Perez copies the move to get ahead of Raikkonen for 14th.
"And now show us your pushing level, try to close that gap," Bottas was told a lap or so ago. He's 3.2s adrift of Max, so he's not got too much in hand...
Perez watch: He's up to 15th on lap eight having moved ahead of Russell and Giovinazzi. The Mexican is on the charge once again.
Ocon doesn't have a chance to use said pace as it looks like Renault have ordered a switcheroo as Ricciardo is unleashed into 10th place. The Australian is on the hards and Ocon is on the mediums, for reference.
Nice move from Albon, gets the DRS on the first back straight and clears Norris. Norris gets back at him on the second stretch, but Albon brakes latest and claims fourth.
Radio Comms
"Do you have any pace in hand Esteban?" Ocon is asked over his team radio. "I do," is the response. Having dropped almost two seconds behind Gasly and having team-mate Ricciardo directly behind him, it is probably best to use it.
DRS isn't looking massively effective at the moment. Perhaps that'll change with tyre wear as we get into the race, but the majority are just trying to get to a one-stop window.
Radio Comms
"There's no way Norris is doing a one-stop, he's overdriving," says Albon. Albon's got the DRS on him, but the McLaren doesn't seem to be winding too much closer.
Perez, aiming to go long on the hards for his opening stint, is up to 17th place at the start of lap five having overtaken Latifi, Fittipaldi and Magnussen on consecutive laps.
Ocon keeps ninth place for just a lap as Gasly dives back ahead under braking at Turn 11. For everyone else it is as you were, this track is known to be tricky for overtaking after all.
Stopwatch
It's a 1m42.292s for Verstappen on that lap, and actually, he's now two seconds clear.
By: Jake Boxall-Legge
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