F1 Abu Dhabi GP qualifying - Start time, how to watch & more

Defending F1 world champion Hamilton grabbed top spot in FP2 after title rival Max Verstappen was fastest in the first practice session at the revamped Yas Marina Circuit, with both drivers going into the season finale level on points for a winner takes all race.

With tensions still high between the two title fighters and their respective teams, Friday practice was a relatively low-key affair as teams adapted to the tweaked track layout.

Hamilton, who led the praise on the track changes, topped FP2 by 0.3s from Alpine’s Esteban Ocon with the sister Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas in third ahead of Verstappen in the Red Bull.

Sergio Perez slotted into fifth place in the other Red Bull ahead of Alpine’s Fernando Alonso and the AlphaTauri of Yuki Tsunoda. Once again the Ferrari duo were evenly matched, Charles Leclerc edging team-mate Carlos Sainz Jr, as Pierre Gasly rounded out the top 10 for AlphaTauri.

What time does qualifying start for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?

Qualifying for the Abu Dhabi GP starts at 5pm local time (1pm GMT), using the regular Q1, Q2 and Q3 knockout session format.

Date: Saturday 11th December 2021
Start time: 5pm local time - 1pm GMT

Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri AT02, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF21

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

How can I watch Formula 1?

Formula 1 is usually only shown live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, however Sky and broadcaster Channel 4 have reached an agreement that means Channel 4 will also broadcast the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP for free. This will not cover qualifying for the Abu Dhabi race, with Channel 4 broadcasting the highlights.

Channel 4 will have the Sky commentary and analysis teams, but the deal means that fans without access to Sky Sports will also be able to watch the historic race live.

How can I watch qualifying?

In the United Kingdom every F1 practice, qualifying and race is broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event, with Abu Dhabi GP qualifying coverage starting at 4pm GMT.

· Channel: Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event
· Start time: 12:00pm GMT

Autosport will be running a live text coverage of qualifying here.

When can I watch the highlights of Abu Dhabi GP qualifying?

In the United Kingdom Channel 4 is broadcasting highlights of qualifying for the Abu Dhabi GP at 6:55pm GMT on Saturday. The full programme will run for 90 minutes, covering both qualifying and wrapping up the major talking points of the race weekend so far.

For the entire 2021 F1 season, Channel 4 will broadcast highlights of every qualifying and race of each event. The highlights will also be available on Channel 4’s on demand catch up services.

· Channel: Channel 4
· Start time: 6:55pm GMT

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes W12, passes Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL35M

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

Will Abu Dhabi GP qualifying be on the radio?

Live radio coverage of every practice, qualifying and race for the 2021 F1 season will be available on the BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC 5 Live Sports Extra or via the BBC Sport website.

Coverage of Abu Dhabi GP qualifying will start at 12:55pm GMT on BBC 5 Live Sports Extra and the BBC Sounds app.

What's the weather forecast for qualifying at the Yas Marina Circuit?

Dry, warm but cloudy weather is forecast for Saturday evening for the start of qualifying at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. The temperature is set to be 26 degrees Celsius at the start of qualifying, one degree lower than qualifying for the Saudi Arabian GP.

F1 Abu Dhabi GP FP2 results

Cla	Driver	Chassis	Engine	Time	Gap
1	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	Mercedes	1'23.691
2	Esteban Ocon	Alpine	Renault	1'24.034	0.343
3	Valtteri Bottas	Mercedes	Mercedes	1'24.083	0.392
4	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	Honda	1'24.332	0.641
5	Sergio Perez	Red Bull	Honda	1'24.400	0.709
6	Fernando Alonso	Alpine	Renault	1'24.495	0.804
7	Yuki Tsunoda	AlphaTauri	Honda	1'24.532	0.841
8	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	Ferrari	1'24.557	0.866
9	Carlos Sainz Jr	Ferrari	Ferrari	1'24.844	1.153
10	Pierre Gasly	AlphaTauri	Honda	1'24.940	1.249
11	Daniel Ricciardo	McLaren	Mercedes	1'24.959	1.268
12	Antonio Giovinazzi	Alfa Romeo	Ferrari	1'25.108	1.417
13	Lando Norris	McLaren	Mercedes	1'25.153	1.462
14	Sebastian Vettel	Aston Martin	Mercedes	1'25.195	1.504
15	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	Mercedes	1'25.385	1.694
16	Kimi Raikkonen	Alfa Romeo	Ferrari	1'25.440	1.749
17	George Russell	Williams	Mercedes	1'25.549	1.858
18	Nicholas Latifi	Williams	Mercedes	1'25.687	1.996
19	Mick Schumacher	Haas	Ferrari	1'25.784	2.093
20	Nikita Mazepin	Haas	Ferrari	1'26.336	2.645
View full results

F1 Abu Dhabi GP FP1 results

Cla	Driver	Chassis	Engine	Time	Gap
1	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	Honda	1'25.009
2	Valtteri Bottas	Mercedes	Mercedes	1'25.205	0.196
3	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	Mercedes	1'25.355	0.346
4	Sergio Perez	Red Bull	Honda	1'25.363	0.354
5	Yuki Tsunoda	AlphaTauri	Honda	1'25.378	0.369
6	Fernando Alonso	Alpine	Renault	1'25.625	0.616
7	Pierre Gasly	AlphaTauri	Honda	1'25.822	0.813
8	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	Ferrari	1'25.846	0.837
9	Carlos Sainz Jr	Ferrari	Ferrari	1'25.886	0.877
10	Sebastian Vettel	Aston Martin	Mercedes	1'26.007	0.998
11	Esteban Ocon	Alpine	Renault	1'26.025	1.016
12	Lando Norris	McLaren	Mercedes	1'26.123	1.114
13	Kimi Raikkonen	Alfa Romeo	Ferrari	1'26.189	1.180
14	Antonio Giovinazzi	Alfa Romeo	Ferrari	1'26.409	1.400
15	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	Mercedes	1'26.608	1.599
16	Daniel Ricciardo	McLaren	Mercedes	1'26.676	1.667
17	Jack Aitken	Williams	Mercedes	1'27.481	2.472
18	Nicholas Latifi	Williams	Mercedes	1'27.487	2.478
19	Mick Schumacher	Haas	Ferrari	1'27.698	2.689
20	Nikita Mazepin	Haas	Ferrari	1'28.305	3.296
View full results