Max Verstappen made mild of earlier set-up issues on Saturday by blitzing to pole place for Red Bull in an eventful qualifying session for this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The three-time world champion clocked a greatest lap in a single minute and 23.445 seconds to outpace nearest rival Charles Leclerc of Ferrari by a tenth of a second forward of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.

It secured Verstappen’s twelfth pole of the season, his fourth in succession in Abu Dhabi and the thirty third of his profession, drawing him stage with 1992 world champion Nigel Mansell within the document books.

George Russell was fourth for Mercedes forward of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Yuki Tsunoda of Alpha Tauri after Carlos Sainz did not make it out of Q1 within the second Ferrari and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was unable to progress from Q2 in his Mercedes.

“It’s all been very weird,” stated a beaming Verstappen. “All weekend it’s been a struggle but we improved a lot and then pushed and I am happy to be on pole. The car felt more connected in qualifying.

“I’ve no clue how the automotive will go within the race so let’s examine, however I’m very happy with our achievements this 12 months.”

Leclerc was also surprised at his success in claiming a front row start. “I did not count on it and I needed to put all of it collectively so I’m very pleased to have second place,” he said. “In Q1 and Q2, I used to be anxious about going via after which immediately right here I’m P2! This automotive is so peaky.”

Asked about Ferrari’s prospects of overhauling Mercedes’ four-point advantage and taking second place in the constructors’ title race, he added: “Well I hope it goes nicely. It’s our goal to beat Mercedes and that is all that issues this weekend.”

Two-time champion Fernando Alonso qualified seventh for Aston Martin ahead of Haas’s Nico Hulkenberg, Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull and Pierre Gasly of Alpine.

The session began under blazing floodlights following a glorious desert sunset with temperatures of 27 degrees (air) and 33 (track). After his problems seeking a set-up in FP3, when he was sixth, Verstappen was soon on the pace, clocking 1:24.160 to take control with no radio grumbles, his Red Bull team-mate Perez slotting into second late in Q1.

The luckless Sainz was a surprise flop, the Ferrari driver eliminated after finishing 15th and going out along with Haas’s Kevin Magnussen, Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, and Logan Sargeant of Williams, whose two best laps were deleted for exceeding track limits.

The Q2 section began with Alex Albon, still feeling ill, first out followed by Hamilton, but it was Verstappen who dazzled again, clocking the first sub-1:24 lap in 1:23.740 to stamp his authority on proceedings with a fresh set of softs.

Alas for Hamilton, a five-time pole-sitter at the Yas Marina Circuit, he could not find the pace required and he was knocked out in 11th along with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll of Aston Martin, Albon and Alpha Tauri’s Daniel Ricciardo.

“There’s one thing not proper with this automotive,” said Hamilton, out-qualified by his team-mate Russell who was fourth behind Verstappen, Norris and Leclerc. The pair thus ended the year 11-11 in their qualifying head-to-head duel.

The outcome of such a close contest in Q2 was that eight different teams were through to the top ten shootout, only Red Bull and McLaren succeeding with both drivers.