(Abu Dhabi) Max Verstappen put on a masterful performance and clinched the lead in qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix on Saturday, while Lewis Hamilton will be alongside him on the front row.
Verstappen clocked a time of one minute and 22.109 seconds behind the wheel of his Red Bull at nightfall on the Yas Marina circuit. He subtracted 0.371 seconds from Hamilton’s stopwatch.
McLaren driver Lando Norris surprised everyone a bit by taking third place, 0.822 seconds behind the Dutch driver. Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez recorded the fourth fastest time.
Carlos Sainz, Valtteri Bottas – who is competing in his last Grand Prix with Mercedes -, Charles Leclerc, Yuki Tsunoda, Esteban Ocon and Daniel Ricciardo completed the top 10, in order.
For his part, Quebecer Lance Stoll was content with the 13e place on the starting grid, while his Aston Martin teammate Sebastian Vettel followed at 15e echelon.
Torontonian Nicholas Latifi will start alongside the German in 16e position, behind the wheel of his Williams.
Kimi Raikkönen, who is playing his last career race in F1, could not do better than the 18the time.
Verstappen and Hamilton are neck and neck in the overall standings, with 369.5 points.
Hamilton has won three consecutive races, which allowed him to erase the 19-point deficit that had widened after Verstappen’s victory on November 7 at the Mexican Grand Prix.
PHOTO ANDREJ ISAKOVIC, FRANCE-PRESS AGENCY
Lewis hamilton
Verstappen has recorded nine wins this season – one less than the 10 gained in total from his previous six seasons in F1. Hamilton has triumphed on eight occasions, his worst performance since his total of nine wins in 2017.
It was his worst performance in terms of victories in a season since 2013, when the Briton was limited to a single triumph.