Lewis Hamilton says Red Bull chief Christian Horner is ‘stirring things’ over team move claims
Lewis Hamilton said there was something wrong with his Mercedes after he qualified only 11th for Sunday’s season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
As Max Verstappen put his Red Bull on pole position for the final race of his all-conquering campaign – with Charles Leclerc second and Oscar Piastri third – Hamilton was left starting at another poor performance in his underperforming machinery.
The seven-time world champion, facing up to a second season without a victory, finished six tenths behind Verstappen and a third-of-a-second back from team-mate George Russell, who qualified fourth.
Hamilton’s failure to progress to Q3 – as he gloomily predicted here on Friday night – leaves the fight between Mercedes and Ferrari for second place in the constructors’ championship firmly in the balance.
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F1 ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX – RACE UPDATES
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The frontrunners all pit! (Lap 18/58)
Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc come in – and the Red Bull now has a three-second lead!
And who now leads the race? Yuki Tsunoda, who is yet to pit!
Lance Stroll, who also hasn’t pitted, is in second – followed by Verstappen, Sainz (yet to pit) and Leclerc.
Kieran Jackson26 November 2023 13:34
George Russell overtakes Lando Norris in the pits! (Lap 15/58)
A slow 5.1 sec pit stop sees Lando Norris fall behind George Russell, in what in reality was P3 in the standings.
Norris does get out, just, in front of his team-mate Oscar Piastri though.
Pit stops all over the field now.
Kieran Jackson26 November 2023 13:27
George Russell takes fourth from Oscar Piastri (Lap 13/58)
Valiant defence from Oscar Piastri, but eventually the Mercedes’ superior pace comes through down the second back straight, with DRS – Russell up to fourth!
Sergio Perez is up to eighth, cruising past Pierre Gasly, while Charles Leclerc just keeping in touch with Max Verstappen at the front – 1.3 secs.
Top-10: Verstappen, Leclerc, Norris, Russell, Piastri, Tsunoda, Perez, Gasly, Hamilton, Ocon
Fernando Alonso the first of the frontrunners to pit – the Aston Martin comes out down in 18th.
Kieran Jackson26 November 2023 13:23
Oscar Piastri holds off George Russell (Lap 8/58)
It looked like George Russell was through around the outside of Oscar Piastri – but the Aussie does brilliantly to keep fourth place with some rapid acceleration on the inside line!
How long can the McLaren hold off the Mercedes though?
At the front, the gap remains at 1.5 seconds. Can Charles Leclerc, perhaps, haul in the Red Bull out front?
Throughout the field, a big old DRS train is forming throughout the pack – a typical feature of this Yas Marina track.
Kieran Jackson26 November 2023 13:17
Lando Norris takes third place from his team-mate (Lap 4/58)
Hell of a start from Lando!
He’s now up to third, quicker than his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, and now has Charles Leclerc in his sights.
At the front, Max Verstappen has opened up a 1.5 sec lead.
Top-10: Verstappen, Leclerc, Norris, Piastri, Russell, Tsunoda, Alonso, Gasly, Perez, Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton down to P10, giving up the position to Sergio Perez. The Mercedes man went wide at turn 1 on the first lap, so perhaps was told to let Perez by.
Kieran Jackson26 November 2023 13:12
Lights out in Abu Dhabi!
It’s a decent start from both man at the start – but Max Verstappen holds off Charles Leclerc!
But the Ferrari man comes back into turn 6 and almost makes a move stick – but the Red Bull keeps its nose in front!
So close for the Monegasque!
Further back, Lando Norris has overtaken George Russell for fourth, while Lewis Hamilton is up to ninth from 11th!
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson26 November 2023 13:07
Formation lap!
So for the final time in 2023, Max Verstappen leads the pack around at the start of the race for the formation lap.
The top-12 all on medium tyres. Carlos Sainz a notable name on hard tyres in 16th.
Here we go then! Can Charles Leclerc get a jump on Max Verstappen into turn one?!
Kieran Jackson26 November 2023 13:01
A reminder of the starting grid for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix:
Kieran Jackson26 November 2023 12:58
Chris Hemsworth on the grid!
The Aussie actor obviously played F1 legend James Hunt in the film Rush.
Kieran Jackson26 November 2023 12:53
Driver Standings ahead of this final race!
Battle to look out for: Who will finish fourth between Sainz, Alonso, Norris and Leclerc?
1) Max Verstappen – 549 points (champion)
2) Sergio Perez – 273 points
3) Lewis Hamilton – 232 points
4) Carlos Sainz – 200 points
5) Fernando Alonso – 200 points
6) Lando Norris – 195 points
7) Charles Leclerc – 188 points
8) George Russell – 160 points
9) Oscar Piastri – 89 points
10) Lance Stroll – 73 points
11) Pierre Gasly – 62 points
12) Esteban Ocon – 58 points
13) Alex Albon – 27 points
14) Yuki Tsunoda – 13 points
15) Valtteri Bottas – 10 points
16) Nico Hulkenberg – 9 points
17) Daniel Ricciardo – 6 points
18) Zhou Guanyu – 6 points
19) Kevin Magnussen – 3 points
20) Liam Lawson – 2 points
21) Logan Sargeant – 1 point
21) Nyck de Vries – 0 points
Kieran Jackson26 November 2023 12:51