{"id":300452,"date":"2023-11-25T14:24:36","date_gmt":"2023-11-25T14:24:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=300452"},"modified":"2023-11-25T14:24:36","modified_gmt":"2023-11-25T14:24:36","slug":"abu-dhabi-gp-qualifying-live-max-verstappen-and-lewis-hamilton-eye-pole","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/racing\/f1\/abu-dhabi-gp-qualifying-live-max-verstappen-and-lewis-hamilton-eye-pole\/","title":{"rendered":"Abu Dhabi GP qualifying LIVE: Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton eye pole"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

The final qualifying session of the season is upon us at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships were wrapped up long ago but there is still plenty to fight for further down the order.<\/p>\n

Each position in the standings is worth tens of millions of pounds and is directly linked to how much bonus each member of staff at the teams will earn. Mercedes sit just four points ahead of Ferrari so all eyes will be on Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen is hoping to sign off with his 19th victory of the campaign on the track where he controversially won his first world title in 2021.<\/p>\n

Express Sport provides live updates of F1 qualifying below<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Q1 underway<\/h3>\n

It takes four minutes for cars to make their way onto the track for the first qualifying session.<\/p>\n

Logan Sargeant is the first out and he’ll be hoping to make it through to Q3 for the second consecutive week.<\/p>\n

Aguero in town<\/h3>\n

Sergio Aguero has arrived in the paddock wearing a Manchester City-themed race suit – complete with racing boots!<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Hamilton emotionally drained<\/h3>\n

Lewis Hamilton says he is “emotionally drained” after a difficult 22-race campaign.<\/p>\n

He said: “I’d rather not keep going into the season, he confessed, “but I think for me I’m just more emotionally drained at the end of the year.<\/p>\n

“It’s obviously a very long season. I think really with all the negativity in the world as well, it’s been quite draining just to maintain a positive mindset through the year.<\/p>\n

To be able to compartmentalise and just go ahead with your job, I think, is difficult. You just try to remain positive through the darkest time.”<\/p>\n

Abu Dhabi rules changed<\/h3>\n

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race director Niels Wittich has been forced to prohibit overtaking in the pit lane after Max Verstappen lost patience with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton on Friday.<\/p>\n

The Red Bull star overtook the pair of Mercedes and an Alpine as he rushed to get out on track during FP2.<\/p>\n

The Dutchman avoided any punishment but he will not be allowed to do the manouvre for the remainder of the weekend.<\/p>\n

Good afternoon<\/h3>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Good afternoon and welcome to Express Sport’s live coverage of the qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.<\/p>\n

An unusual FP3 earlier today saw Max Verstappen struggle for pace as he could only record the sixth fastest lap time.<\/p>\n

George Russell set the quickest pace but both Williams drivers beat his team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who was P13.<\/p>\n