Max Verstappen (24) secures starting position 1 for the big title finale!
The Dutchman is the fastest man in qualifying on the Yas Marina Circuit and will start the race on Sunday (2 p.m. / Sky) from pole position. Competitor Lewis Hamilton (36) starts from P2 and is his direct pursuer on the same row. Verstappen: “I’m looking forward to tomorrow, that’s the most important thing.”
It is a pole position that could determine the world title. In addition, Verstappen has the soft tires, which could be another turbo for the flying Dutchman at the start.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix shows who will be world champion: Hamilton or Verstappen. The two drivers start the last race with the same number of points. If both of them get the same few points in the race, Verstappen would be world champion because he has more wins (9: 8) than Hamilton.
Pole is particularly important in Abu Dhabi: the circuit is not considered particularly easy to overtake. The pole setter has always won for the past six years. Even if renovation work should make overtaking maneuvers easier on Sunday …
German side note: Sebastian Vettel (34) will start from 15th place, Mick Schumacher (22) from 19th place.
In the first session, the Red Bulls hit the slopes earlier than the Silver Arrows, with Verstappen clocking a 1: 23.680. With 15 minutes left on the clock, the Mercedes also get started – and Hamilton countered Verstappen’s time directly with 1: 23.266. Verstappen delivers 1: 23.322.
But then everyone first looks at our German drivers and not at the most exciting world championship fight in years.
Mick Schumacher shaves a plastic bollard a good seven minutes before the end of the session, Lando Norris drives over it. The good piece remains on the edge shortly before the start / finish. There’s the red flag. The qualification is paused for three minutes to repair the damage. After the restart, Sebastian Vettel hooked Esteban Ocon.
Then the Hamilton exclamation mark! The Brit is already right at the top, but still delivers a 1: 22.845, which is almost half a second faster than before. Behind him team-mate Bottas. Then the Red Bull.
Vettel just made the jump to P15, complained on the radio about too much traffic.
Out after Q1: Mick and Haas colleague Mazepin. Plus the Williams by Russell and Latifi. Kimi Raikkonen, who is ending his Formula 1 career, apparently wants to call it a day early. The Finn finishes his last qualifying after the first session.
In the second session the Silver Arrows open the wild ride, shortly afterwards the Red Bull. All on medium tires.
After the first attempt, Verstappen is only four thousandths behind Hamilton (1: 23.185)! Shortly afterwards, Verstappen had to go into the pits, radioed excitedly that he had a flat tire.
Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz has taken the lead in a Ferrari. Panic breaks out two and a half minutes before the end of the session. The convoy of Mercedes, Ferrari and Alpha Tauri as well as an Alpine almost looks as if a race is already being held in Yas Marina. But it’s only Q2! Verstappen is also stuck in the chaos, just barely past the gang.
In the last shot, Perez takes the lead (1: 23.135), then Verstappen passes (1: 22.800). Both have the soft tires on it. Hamilton sets the third fastest time (1: 23.145) – but on Medium. These are the starting tires for the race.
Alonso in the Alpine, Gasly in the Alpha Tauri, Vettel (P15) and teammate Stroll and Giovinazzi in the Alfa Romeo missed the jump into the last session. Vettel has a lot of feelings: Most of his radio message has to be beeped.
The final for the pole: Verstappen is the first to set a time: 1: 22.109. In the first shot, Hamilton is half a second slower.
Both come to the pits. Three and a half minutes before the end, the Mercedes drive out together. The Red Bulls are following suit as a duo.
Hamilton comes in at 0.371, but that’s not enough! Verstappen secured pole for the grand finale with a wild spark ride!
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