FORMULA ONE rarely gets weekends like this – and we have a truly epic season finale in store.
But this is a motor racing year like no other, as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen slug it out one final time in Abu Dhabi.
The weekend gets underway with today’s practice at Yas Marina circuit before qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday.
Brit Hamilton, 36, and Dutchman Verstappen, 24, are level on points going into the final race with 369.5 points apiece.
If both drivers crash out of Sunday’s race or they both finish on the same points then the title will come down to who has won the most Grands Prix this season, meaning Verstappen would take the title.
Stay up to date with all the latest from Yas Marina in our live blog…
HAMILTON REACTS
Lewis Hamilton feels “great” after the second practice session but insists the Mercedes team will keep working hard ahead of Sunday’s title decider.
Hamilton said: “It doesn’t feel too bad.
“It started off good but got a bit worse in P1, then started off better in the second session with some changes we made.
“But yes, now we just have to crank through the data and try to figure out how we can improve, where we home in. The target is always moving, but yes. Otherwise, I feel good.
“I feel good, I feel great in my body and as I said I think we made some positive steps set-up wise, so we’ll try and perfect it tonight and come back hard tomorrow”
PRACTICE 2 LATEST
Alfa Romeo star Kimi Raikkonen hit the barriers at Turn 14 close to the end of Practice 2.
The collision has caused quite some damage to his car but thankfully Raikkonen seems to be well
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And here’s how the back of the line looks after the second practice in Abu Dhabi:
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Lewis Hamilton fought back in the second practice session and finished first ahead of Esteban Ocon.
Hamilton’s rival Verstappen finished fourth behind Valtteri Bottas and ahead of Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez
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Alfa Romeo star Raikkonen has caught a lift back to the pits.
Not how the way he wanted his final weekend in Formula One to go
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The session ends and all eyes are on Raikkonen’s Alfa Romeo.
The driver has thankfully come out and confirmed he’s well
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Alfa Romeo’s Raikkonen has hit the barriers at Turn 14.
The legendary driver, who will retire after the Grand Prix, has sustained quite significant damage done to his Alfa Romeo.
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The chequered flag is out!
We are close to the finish line
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Two more minutes to go and Hamilton continues to lead.
Bottas is still ahead of Verstappen in third, while Ocon is second
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Verstappen remains fourth but is the fastest man on track at the moment, lapping in a 1:28.1 on five laps on the soft tyre.
Hamilton and Bottas have been running on the slower medium tyre
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Ten more minutes to go in Yas Marina!
Hamilton continues to lead whereas Verstappen is fourth, expect him to pick it up though
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Less than 15 minutes to go in Abu Dhabi!
Drivers will now focus on keeping their tyres in check for the twisty final sector
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The battle for first place remains quite stable with Hamilton leading and Ocon behind him.
Bottas is third and is followed by the Red Bull drivers, of which Verstappen is fourth
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Let’s have a look at the back.
Mazepin remains last behind Haas team-mate Schumacher and Williams’ Latifi
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Hamilton overtakes Ocon by 0.3secs and leads the pack!
Verstappen is fourth behind Bottas and Perez follows in fifth
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Alpine are showing tremendous improvement in Abu Dhabi.
Alonso threatened Hamilton and Verstappen in the first session, now it’s Ocon who currently leads
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But what do you know, Alpine’s Ocon takes the lead!
This is quite an exciting practice session
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Bottas retains the lead with Hamilton registering 0.021sec down
Verstappen drops to fourth
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Bottas overtakes Hamilton after fitting the soft tyres.
His Mercedes team-mate follows in second with Verstappen third
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Verstappen has dropped to fourth, with Bottas and Ricciardo ahead in second and third respectively.
Hamilton continues to lead comfortably
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There we go!
Hamilton is stretching his lead, despite Verstappen climbing up to second.
The Mercedes superstar sets what is by far the fastest lap of the day as he goes down to a 1:24.126, which is almost a full second quicker than his rival’s 1:25.065
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And we have another clash!
This time it’s Williams’ Latifi in the final sector, he limps back to the garage to check his rear wing
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Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Bottas has just clashed into the barrier at Turn 14 with his right-rear wheel.
The Finn continues but he suffered a heavy impact and is back in the pit lane to gets his wheel checked
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Hamilton is currently leading the pack with Norris and Leclerc behind him.
Verstappen is ninth and had his lap deleted for track limits
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Hamilton has registered a first lap at 1:25.127, so already close to the quickest from first practice.
The drop in temperature helps drivers go faster
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
