Formula 1
MAX TAKES POLE WITH A TOW FROM PEREZ! LCH IN SECOND AND NORRIS HAS A FRONT ROW SEAT BEHIND THE RUMBLE IN ABU DHABI!
Max stormed to pole position at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as LCH admitted he had no answer to the Dutchman’s flying lap.
The pair head into the season-ending race at the Yas Marina Circuit locked on points at the top of the championship – only the second time that has happened in Formula One history and the first time since 1974.
LCH looked primed to take the advantage as he set the pace for the majority of the sessions heading into the top-10 qualifying shoot-out.
Max, however, put in a scintillating time to seal a 13th pole of his career, with Hamilton coming in second as the title protagonists locked out the front row of the grid.
LCH was ultimately pleased to qualify second after conceding his Mercedes could not match the one minute 22.109 seconds which saw Max seal pole – the Brit also joking he was pleased to know where his rival would be given the suggestions he could be run off the track.
“Max did a great lap today so we just couldn’t compete with that time at the end. It was looking really strong in practice,” he said.
“We couldn’t answer that lap, it was a fantastic lap from him, but we are in a good position.
“I couldn’t beat that time he did today and he fully deserved the pole.
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – DECEMBER 11: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Red Bull Racing RB16B Honda in the pitlane during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 11, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
MAX VERSTAPPEN, Position: 1st, 1:22.109 (Practice 3 – 1:23.488)
“It’s always good to have a performance like this one today, but there are no guarantees for tomorrow, I still expect it to be a really hard battle. I originally planned to start on the mediums but I flat spotted my tyres so I had to go onto the softs, I actually felt okay on the softs during the long runs so hopefully it will work out tomorrow in the race.
So far, the car has been good and throughout the practice sessions we made some good improvements to the car. I think everything worked out well, especially with Checo’s help, it was nicely executed. He’s a great teammate and a real pleasure to work with so a big thank you to him. I hope we have a good start and from there on in we can have a great race.”