F1 practice LIVE: Max Verstappen fastest in second practice ahead of George Russell and Charles Leclerc
Follow all the build-up to first practice at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton returns to the scene of the toughest moment of his career as the 2022 F1 season concludes with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend.
The Mercedes driver - who has one more shot at preserving his year-on-year win record in Formula 1 - missed out on a record-breaking eighth world title in 2021 in thrilling and controversial circumstances at Yas Marina, as Max Verstappen benefited from a botched safety car and lapped cars procedure to overtake Hamilton on the final lap.
Verstappen has cruised to a second world title this year but comes into the season finale under a dark cloud, after disobeying team orders in not allowing Sergio Perez to pass him in the closing stages of the Brazilian Grand Prix last Sunday.
Perez is level on points with Charles Leclerc in the battle for second place in the World Championship, while Mercedes are just 19 points off Ferrari in the Constructors’ Standings after George Russell led a one-two finish at Interlagos.
Follow F1 updates live with The Independent - FP1 starts at 10am (GMT)
‘You know how it is with Max’: Lewis Hamilton reacts after collision with Verstappen in Brazil
Max Verstappen said he would not hesitate to collide with Lewis Hamilton again after the rivals crashed at Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix.
Hamilton and Verstappen tangled following a safety car restart on the seventh lap in Interlagos as they duelled for second place through the Senna Esses.
Hamilton recovered to finish runner-up – behind team-mate George Russell who took his maiden win – while Verstappen, who was forced to stop for repairs in his Red Bull, finished sixth.
The double world champion - who disobeyed team orders late on and opted not to let Sergio Perez overtake him was deemed at fault for the collision by the stewards and hit with a five-second penalty.
After the race, Hamilton, who was involved in a number of altercations with Verstappen during last season’s toxic title battle, said: “What can I say? You know how it is with Max.”
‘You know how it is with Max’: Hamilton reacts after collision with Verstappen
‘You know how it is with Max’: Lewis Hamilton reacts after collision with Verstappen in Brazil
Lewis Hamilton backed to ‘reinvent himself’ in ‘second or third career’ by Toto Wolff
Lewis Hamilton has been backed to “reinvent himself” in a “second or third career” after racing by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton has endured a difficult season off the back of controversially missing out on a record eighth title in Abu Dhabi last year.
The 37-year-old is yet to win a race in 2022 and is currently fifth in the Driver Standings, with Red Bull and Ferrari producing a quicker car than Mercedes after a change in regulations.
While the Silver Arrows are hopeful of being back in the hunt in 2023, Mercedes CEO Wolff praised Hamilton’s “intelligence” in analysing his remaining years in the sport, with Hamilton himself saying that he can see himself continuing for another five years despite his numerous interests outside of racing.
Lewis Hamilton backed to ‘reinvent himself’ in ‘second or third career’ by Toto Wolff
Lewis Hamilton backed to ‘reinvent himself’ in ‘second or third career’ by Toto Wolff
Max Verstappen has ‘different set of limits’ when racing Lewis Hamilton, says Martin Brundle
Max Verstappen races to a “different set of limits” when faced with Lewis Hamilton on track, claims F1 pundit Martin Brundle.
Verstappen and Hamilton, arch rivals for the World Championship in 2021, clashed in the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday straight after a safety car period, with two-time world champion Verstappen receiving a five-second penalty.
The duo clashed numerous times last year, most notably at Imola, Silverstone and Monza, as they fought thrillingly for the world title won by Verstappen in dramatic and controversial fashion on the last lap of the season-finale at Abu Dhabi.
Yet Sky F1 pundit and ex-Formula 1 driver Brundle says the evidence suggests the Dutchman competes differently with seven-time world champion Hamilton compared to anyone else on the grid.
Verstappen has ‘different set of limits’ when racing Hamilton, says Brundle
Verstappen and Hamilton collided during the opening laps of the Brazilian Grand Prix with the Red Bull driver receiving a penalty
Why Max Verstappen’s self-absorption will come back to haunt him
Another week in Formula 1, another week where the spotlight is on this year’s double world champions for all the wrong reasons. After the cost-cap saga and Sky Sports boycott that has overshadowed Red Bull’s imperious march to Drivers and Constructors glory in the past month, Christian Horner’s team have now completed an unwanted hat-trick. That spotlight shows no sign of dimming.
Max Verstappen’s refusal to obey team orders in the final stages of Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix, ignoring an instruction from his trusted race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase to make way for Sergio Perez, is as selfish as it is ill-considered. Unpicking the Dutchman’s indiscretion is multi-faceted but, ultimately, none of them come up in favour of a driver who is doing his reputation no favours despite a year of record-breaking achievement.
First, let’s analyse Verstappen’s potential reasoning, a point of contention he refused to reveal when speaking to the media afterwards. Over team radio, he bluntly stated he “has his reasons” for not allowing Perez – fighting for second in the World Championship against Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc – to take sixth place. More to the point, Red Bull are fighting to secure their first-ever one-two finish in the standings.
Why Max Verstappen’s self-absorption will come back to haunt him
The world champion’s act of defiance in Brazil makes a mockery of Red Bull team orders and team-mate Sergio Perez – and could impact his 2023 title pursuit
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - FP1
Bottom 10 in FP1
11. Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri)
12. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
13. Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri)
14. Robert Kubica (Alfa Romeo)
15. Logan Sargeant (Williams)
16. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
17. Pietro Fittipaldi (Haas)
18. Pato O’Ward (McLaren)
19. Jack Doohan (Alpine)
20. Felipe Drugovich (Aston Martin)
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - FP1
Top 10 in FP1
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2. George Russell (Mercedes)
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
4. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
5. Liam Lawson (Red Bull)
6. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin)
7. Robert Shwartzman (Ferrari)
8. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren)
9. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)
10. Alex Albon (Williams)
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - FP1
And there we are! It’s a Mercedes one-two in FP1 with Lewis Hamilton setting the quickest lap and George Russell just behind him.
It was a great session for Red Bull rookie Liam Lawson who finishes fifth behind the Mercedes drivers plus teammate Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Sebastian Vettel ends the session sixth in a strong showing for Aston Martin. A podium place for him this weekend will be a huge moment if he can earn one.
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