Max Verstappen on pole by 0.2s from Sergio Perez; Ferraris on second row, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell solely fifth and sixth; Sebastian Vettel stars in closing qualifying in ninth; Watch Abu Dhabi GP reside on Sky Sports F1 at 1pm on Sunday, with build-up from 11.30am

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It’s a one-two for Red Bull as Max Verstappen takes pole within the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Sergio Perez second

Max Verstappen will begin on pole place for the ultimate race of a 2022 season he has dominated after beating Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez in an Abu Dhabi GP qualifying that noticed Mercedes’ menace fade away.

Mercedes weren’t in a position to replicate their Brazil, or Abu Dhabi observe, tempo as soon as the floodlights got here on at Yas Marina on Saturday and had been usurped by Ferrari as Red Bull’s closest challengers – although the Q3 finale rapidly turned a head-to-head battle between Verstappen and Perez.

Perez had been sooner driver via qualifying however double world champion Verstappen aced each of his laps within the closing section – each of which might have been adequate for pole, and ultimately beat the Mexican by 0.2s.

Following the staff orders dispute of final week, Verstappen additionally gave Perez, who’s aiming to clinch second place within the championship, a tow to assist his lap.

Charles Leclerc, locked on factors with Perez within the standings, completed third for Ferrari, simply 4 hundredths of a second off the second Red Bull, and Carlos Sainz will be a part of him on the second row for the ultimate race of 2022, which is reside on Sky Sports F1 on Sunday at 1pm with build-up from 11.30am.

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Ride onboard with Max Verstappen because the Dutchman pipped his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez to pole in Abu Dhabi.

In a two-by-two high six, Lewis Hamilton – having escaped a penalty shortly earlier than the shootout over a red-flag scare in closing observe – and George Russell might solely handle fifth and sixth for Mercedes.

While Lando Norris was a ‘better of the remaining’ seventh for McLaren, who loved a robust qualifying with Daniel Ricciardo additionally within the top-10, the star of the shootout was retiring four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Vettel, dodging visitors within the closing sector, stormed out of Q1 after which Q2 in his Aston Martin and completed ninth, 5 locations greater than team-mate Lance Stroll.

Fernando Alonso was a shock absentee from the ultimate shootout whereas Kevin Magnussen adopted up the primary pole of his profession in Brazil with a Q1 exit in Abu Dhabi, in sixteenth.

Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying Results
1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
3) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
4) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
5) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
6) George Russell, Mercedes
7) Lando Norris, McLaren
8) Esteban Ocon, Alpine
9) Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin
10) Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren

More to observe…