Abu Dhabi GP: Max’s stunning Pole
Verstappen stuns Mercedes by taking first pole of the season in Abu Dhabi
Max Verstappen delivered a magical lap in qualifying to snatch a shock pole position for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver getting the better of Mercedes for the first time in 2020 with the top three separated by just 0.086s…
The Flying Dutchman at Abu Dhabi
The Dutchman’s qualifying started badly as he flatspotted his first set of tyres and then struggled for performance in the first segment. But he got better and better as the session went on under the lights at Yas Martina to take the first non-Mercedes pole in Abu Dhabi since 2013.
Mercedes miss the mark by a whisker
It ended Mercedes run of being one-two in every Q3 session at Abu Dhabi in the turbo hybrid era, Verstappen’s stunning middle sector making the difference to put him on P1 at a track where he has never led a lap in his Formula 1 career.
Valtteri Bottas, who was told by team boss Toto Wolff on team radio “all you have Valtteri”, slotted into second, pipping his Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton, who was making his racing return after missing the last race having tested positive for Covid-19 in Bahrain.
McLaren looking strong for 3rd in championship. Renault not so much
McLaren’s Lando Norris delivered one of the best laps of his career to go fourth quickest. Red Bull’s Alex Albon had a smoother weekend to take fifth. He still doesn’t have a contract and is fighting for his seat.
Carlos Sainz was sixth. He is running an older engine than his McLaren team mate. This older engine is costing two tenths of a lap according to Carlos. Next was AlphaTauri’s Daniil Kvyat, who continues his very strong end to a campaign which might be his last in F1.
Lance Stroll was the best-placed Racing Point in eighth. His team mate Sergio Perez starting from the back after a host of engine component changes. This spices up the battle for P3 in the constructors’ championship as their lead over McLaren is just 10 points.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and the other AlphaTauri of Pierre Gasly rounded out the top 10 in 2020’s final qualifying session.
Abu Dhabi Quali Classification
