F1 qualifying LIVE: Max Verstappen takes pole position ahead of Sergio Perez at Abu Dhabi GP
Follow qualifying updates and timings as Max Verstappen battles Mercedes pair George Russell and Lewis Hamilton for pole position at Sunday’s finale
The final race of the 2022 Formula One season is on Sunday and there’s still plenty to be decided despite the title being wrapped up.
Max Verstappen clinched his seventh pole of the season as he beat Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez to top of the charts in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday.
Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz filled the second row ahead of the Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and George Russell across the third row. McLaren’s Lando Norris, Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel and Norris’s teammate Daniel Ricciardo rounded out the top 10.
The likes of Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo and Mick Schumacher are set for their final races with their teams - the former is indeed set for his final race altogether after announcing his retirement from F1 earlier this season.
Follow F1 updates with The Independent - qualifying starts at 10:30am (GMT):
Abu Dhabi GP qualifying LIVE
Two minutes to go. Here comes Lance Stroll, he’s just about safe at the moment but might need to improve as Vettel is on his way around now too. Might just be the best of these Aston Martin pair survive and the other does not.
Abu Dhabi GP qualifying LIVE
In danger at the moment of not making Q2: Latifi, Albon, Bottas, Schumacher and Vettel.
Just about five minutes for them to get a better lap in.
Albon did have a better time but had it deleted for exceeding track limits.
Leclerc posts a marginally better time but not enough to overtake teammate Sainz.
Abu Dhabi GP qualifying LIVE
Around six minutes remaining here. Alonso just about retains control after a wobble coming through a turn but stays on track and clocks 12th best time.
Hamilton is seventh at the moment, the Ferrari pair are behind the Red Bull duo leading.
Abu Dhabi GP qualifying LIVE
Strong start in Q1 for Perez who sets the early pace.
Teammate Verstappen is running through now and...goes fastest by 0.066s. Just about!
Leclerc earlier went through about 0.4s slower than Perez and then the two McLaren drivers make up the early top five. A brief flag but we’re green and go again.
Abu Dhabi GP qualifying LIVE
We are ready to go at the Yas Marina Circuit!
Hamilton hoping to land a first pole of the season, Vettel hoping to end his time in F1 strong, Latifi and Schumacher in their final weekends as drivers....lots going on this weekend.
Let’s see who takes pole for tomorrow’s race!
Abu Dhabi GP qualifying LIVE
We are fast approaching go time in the final qualifying round of the season.
A quick reminder that Sergio Perez went fastest in FP3 - he is level on points with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc heading into this weekend.
Ferrari, in turn, are only 19 points ahead of Mercedes in the constructor standings, so there’s still lots to play for.
Abu Dhabi GP LIVE
No penalty for Lewis Hamilton for that red flag incident in FP3, reports Andrew Benson of BBC Sport.
A note from the stewards reads: “No dispute that Car 44 passed Car 20 directly after the track was placed in a Red Flag condition. (Hamilton) was on a fast lap, he saw the Red Light, immediately completely lifted the throttle and applied the brakes while checking his mirrors for cars following in close proximity. He said he had, in doing so, gone past Car 20. Stewards noted precedent in relation to the 2021 Dutch GP (Verstappen), where no action was taken against the driver under similar but not identical circumstances.
“Conclusion that the driver of Car 44 took every reasonable action to comply with the regulations in that he immediately reduced speed in a safe manner at the earliest opportunity upon the first indication of the red light.”
F1 qualifying live stream: How to watch Abu Dhabi Grand Prix online today
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.
Here is everything you need to know.
How to watch Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying online today
Everything you need to know as Formula 1 returns to the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi
Max Verstappen admits he had almost conceded defeat before chaotic end to 2021 Abu Dhabi GP
Max Verstappen admits he had almost given up hope before the frantic end to last year’s season-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton, targeting a record-breaking eighth world title, was leading comfortably in the closing stages of the winner-takes-all race as Verstappen’s first World Championship seemed to be slipping away.
But Nicholas Latifi’s crash with five laps to go triggered a safety car, Verstappen pitted for soft tyres and a botched lapped cars procedure gave the Dutchman one final opportunity on the final lap.
The Red Bull star overtook Hamilton to claim his first world title in dramatic fashion but speaking to GQ, the 25-year-old admits that he had almost conceded defeat given Hamilton’s margin of lead before Latifi’s crash changed the complexion of the race.
Verstappen admits he had almost conceded defeat before end to 2021 Abu Dhabi GP
Lewis Hamilton was leading comfortably before a late crash and safety car gifted Verstappen one final opportunity
Ferrari reject claims Mattia Binotto will be sacked as team principal
Ferrari have rejected claims that team principal Mattia Binotto will be axed after the end of the 2022 Formula 1 season.
A report by Italian outlet Gazzette dello Sport stated Binotto - who has been under intense scrutiny this year after a number of high-profile strategic errors from the Ferrari pit wall - would be replaced by Alfa Romeo team principal Fred Vasseur for the 2023 season.
It added that Vasseur was highly regarded by Ferrari, who supply engines to the Alfa Romeo team - which are the Sauber operation to be supplied by Audi from 2026.
However, Ferrari have moved to dismiss the speculation in a short statement.
Ferrari reject claims Mattia Binotto will be sacked as team principal
A report in Italian media stated Binotto would be replaced by Alfa Romeo’s Fred Vasseur but the Scuderia have stated those rumours are ‘totally without foundation’
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