F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Qualifying LIVE results: Verstappen starts on POLE with Hamilton second – latest from Yas Marina

MAGIC MAX

Nico Rosberg claims Max Verstappen delivered something magical with his spectacular pole-winning lap at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Dutchman took pole position ahead of tomorrow’s finale in Abu Dhabi and Rosberg thinks he delivered a spell-binding display.

Rosberg told Sky Sports F1: “With all this discussion, it’s so damn simple, this guy just delivered something magical. That’s it. It just comes down to that.

“But, as Max said, the interesting thing is he didn’t want to be on the soft for tomorrow so that is what keeps it full of suspense for the race.”

WOLFF SPEAKS

Totto Wolff gave his assessment of Qualifying.

He said: “I think there is nothing you need to say [to Hamilton]. I think he’s going to be angry and that’s good.

“Motivated for tomorrow to hunt him down. Sometimes you need to see the positive and that’s not bad. 

“If he can keep it in P2 obviously that’s an advantage. If you lose positions then it becomes more and more difficult.

“I think they have  put on the small wing so they will have lots of straight line speed… it’s only with tyre offset [that you can overtake].”

TOP NO-TCH

Norris will start from P3 tomorrow.

HORNER SPEAKS

Red Bull chief Christian Horner has revealed Perez gave up his optimal lap to allow Verstappen to clock in his fastest time.

Speaking after qualifying, Horner said: “I think that’s one of Max’s best laps of the year. Even on the following lap he matched the time.

“The tow was probably worth a tenth or two… not half a second. 

“I think that Max is giving it everything. He’s driving his heart out. He’s thrown everything at this session.

“Checo has sacrificed an optimal lap for him to give his team-mate that performance.”

‘INCREDIBLY HAPPY’

Max Verstappen is ‘incredibly happy’ with his performance in qualifying.

He said: “It’s of course an amazing feeling. We definitely improved the car again in qualifying.

“Incredibly happy with this. It’s never easy with their form the last few races. I am just looking forward to tomorrow because that’s where the points are. 

“I felt good on both tyres. Naturally now in the evening it’s a bit cooler so it should be easier on the soft tyres. We’ll see where we end up.”

HAMILTON HAILS MAX

Lewis Hamilton has hailed title rival Max Verstappen after the Dutchman took pole position ahead of tomorrow’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Brit admitted he ‘couldn’t compete’ with the lap time Verstappen set early on in Q3.

He said: “Firstly Max did a great lap today. We just couldn’t compete with that time at the end.

“It was looking really strong through practice. We just couldn’t answer to that lap. We’re in a good position I’d like to think with our tyres tomorrow. 

“The last lap was nice and clean, I just couldn’t go any quicker. I couldn’t beat that time he did today, he deserved pole. 

“I’m still on the front row. I’m grateful I can see where he is!”

Q3 – PUSH IT TO THE MAX

MAX VERSTAPPEN WILL BE ON POLE!

Hamilton goes 0.371 slower than his title rival.

Norris takes 3rd!

1. Verstappen – 1:22.109
2. Hamilton
3. Norris
4. Perez
5. Sainz
6. Bottas
7. Leclerc
8. Tsunoda
9. Ocon
10. Ricciardo
11. Alonso
12. Gasly
13. Stroll
14. Giovinazzi
15. Vettel
16. Latifi
17. Russell
18. Raikkonen
19. Schumacher
20. Mazepin

Q3 – ONE MINUTE TO GO

Last chance for Hamilton to steal the show.

He’s out on soft tyres.

Q3 – VERSTAPPEN BESTS HAMILTON

WOW!

Verstappen looks incredibly fast through S2….. can he ace S3? He does!

He clocks in a time of 1:22.109!

Over to Hamilton.

The Brit looks shaky as he heads in S3…… will he beat Verstappen?

No he can’t!

Hamilton is 0.551 slower than the championship-leading Dutchman!

Verstappen takes provisional pole.

Q3 STARTS

Here we go…. Q3 is underway!

‘FOOD WOULDN’T GO DOWN’

Rosberg says he was unable to sleep or eat before the final race of the season in 2016 and took to eating cereal if he could, writes BEN HUNT.

He added: “It was like two, maximum three, hours per night. I couldn’t even eat properly.

“The food wouldn’t go down. So I had to revert back to my childhood food which was Frosties and milk. That was the only thing that would go down.

“And it’s all these troubles that you are then fighting throughout the weekend, you just have to try and spare the energy to when it matters.”

ROSBERG TIPS LEW TO WIN

Lewis Hamilton’s old enemy, Nico Rosberg, has tipped the Brit to win the title, writes BEN HUNT.

Rosberg is the only man to beat Hamilton to the title since 2014 when he pipped him to the crown in 2016.

Rosberg was left so drained after his battle with Hamilton he retired from F1 just days later.

And he says that Hamilton is the favourite as he’s been in this situation before, fighting for titles.

He said: “Lewis is on fire, he has such great form, winning three in a row and he’s brought it here. You feel he has to be a little bit the favourite at the moment.

“I was in such a title battle in 2016 and it’s a lot, just the intensity. The nerves.

“Someone like Max, from outside, sometimes you think ‘This guy doesn’t even get nervous’ but that’s not true.

“Inside we’re still all humans and both of them will be on the edge of their seats this weekend.”

END OF Q2

Good stuff from Perez as he goes strong through S2 and S3.

Hamilton thought he had come top, but the Red Bull pair knock him off top spot!

Verstappen clocks in a time of 1:22.8 right on the end of Q2, and Perez is 0.3 slower.

Alonso, Gasly, Stroll, Giovinazzi and Vettel are eliminated.

Q3 will start shortly, here’s who’s left:

• Verstappen
• Perez
• Hamilton
• Sainz
• Leclerc
• Bottas
• Norris
• Tsunoda
• Ocon
• Ricciardo

Q2 – ‘I LOVE THIS GAME’

Sainz still leads…. Verstappen is back out on the softs with three minutes to go.

In other news, Man Utd legend Patrice Evra is in Abu Dhabi!

Q2 – SAINZ GOES QUICKEST

Ferrari’s Sainz goes quickest in Q2 with seven minutes to go.

He clocks in a time of 1:23.174, 0.011 quicker than Hamilton.

Verstappen, meanwhile, locks up on turn one.

Q2 – LEW LOOKING FAST

Hamilton goes quickest through S1 and S2.

Verstappen manages to clock in a quicker time in S3.

But the seven-time F1 champ comes out on top with a lap time of 1:23.185.

Verstappen is just 0.004 off Hamilton.

Q2 STARTS

Mercedes lead the way as Q2 starts with just 15 drivers left.

Looks like the majority are running on medium tyres….. Aston Martin duo Stroll and Vettel are on the softs.

They have 15 minutes.

Q1 ENDS

Latifi, Russell, Raikkonen, Schumacher and Mazepin fail to beat the drop zone and their qualifying comes to an end.

Q1 – LEW BEAUTY

Hamilton and Merc team-mate Bottas improve on their earlier speeds.

The Brit clocks in a time of 1:22.845 and Bottas is 0.272 slower.

Q1 – MERC’S BACK OUT

Both Hamilton and Bottas are back out from the pits with just under three minutes to go in Q1.

They will look to improve on their earlier times.

Hamilton still leads with a time of 1:23.266.

Q1 – QUALIFYING BACK UNDERWAY

There’s five minutes left of Q1 and some cars are back out on the track.

Ferrari’s Sainz and Leclerc are out at the moment warming up.

Both find themselves 11th and 12th at the moment.

Vettel tries to clock in a fast time, but he’s blocked on his way through to the line.

Q1 – SESSION STOPPED

RED FLAG!

The session has been temporarily stopped.

Norris’ car is caught by a bollard in the final corner – not entirely sure how.

Q1 – NORRIS ON 4TH

Lando Norris is making a good account of himself early on here.

He’s up into P4 for the time being.

Q1 – PEREZ AND VERSTAPPEN FALL SHORT

Red Bull’s Perez looks quick as he flies through S1 and S2.

But as he comes into the home straight he falls short by 0.311.

Verstappen, meanwhile, improves on his time but falls short of Hamilton by 0.056.

Q1 – MERC ONE AND TWO

So far so good for Mercedes as Hamilton and Bottas occupy the top two spots.