16:09
Goodbye!
We say goodbye to qualifying in Abu Dhabi. It continues tomorrow with the grand finale of the 2022 Formula 1 season. We will be there live again and wish you a nice Saturday!
16:08
Vettel saying goodbye to the top ten
Sebastian Vettel secured a place in the top ten when he left. The four-time world champion will start from ninth place on the grid in his final race tomorrow, Sunday. For Mick Schumacher, after an equally good performance, it went all the way to Q2. He will start the final race of the 2023 season from 13th place.
16:07
Verstappen wins last qualifier of the season
Max Verstappen showed a strong first run in Q3, which was easily enough for pole. He had been able to take over two tenths from his competitors. Sergio Pérez is second and thus has the better cards in the fight for second place in the World Cup over Charles Leclerc, who will start third. “Qualifying was pretty up and down,” reports Max Verstappen in the winner’s interview. “Q2 was a bit chaotic, I couldn’t find the grip. But in Q3 it felt more normal. Today was outstanding but I expect a good fight tomorrow.”
12.
16:03
End of qualifying
Qualifying at the Yas Marina Circuit has ended. Mercedes is on the third row with Hamilton and Russell. Lando Norris is seventh ahead of Ocon. Sebastian Vettel finished ninth ahead of Daniel Ricciardo in his last qualifying session.
12.
16:02
red bull
Max Verstappen wins qualifying at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
This makes it clear that pole at the finale in Abu Dhabi tomorrow will go to Max Verstappen. The Dutchman prevailed over team-mate Sergio Pérez, who was unable to take advantage of the donated slipstream and ended up 0.228 seconds behind. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz form the second row.
12.
16:00
Hamilton is out
Hamilton’s middle sector doesn’t fit together and it’s clear that he can’t pose a threat to Verstappen either. What does Sergio Perez do? It’s not enough for him either. He ends up two tenths behind his teammate.
11.
15:59
Does Hamilton pass?
Lewis Hamilton starts with a best time in the first sector. Can he still challenge Max Verstappen for pole? For his part, Charles Leclerc will not pass. He is 0.1 seconds behind Verstappen’s time.
9.
15:56
Red Bull marks the end
The two Red Bulls set the final point in qualifying. Max Verstappen drives in front of Sergio Pérez.
8th.
15:55
Vettel in seventh place
Sebastian Vettel finds himself in seventh place at the end of his lap. Now he will have to wait and see what it will be enough for in the end. The competition is now driving out again and heralding the big showdown.
6.
15:54
Vettel goes on the fast lap
Sebastian Vettel will only use a fresh set of tires in the last qualifying session and is now trying to use the empty track. Daniel Ricciardo imitates him. Everyone else is currently in the pit lane to prepare for the final runs.
5.
15:53
red bull
Max Verstappen’s new best time in Q3
Max Verstappen crosses the line and secures the new best time in Q3 with 1:23.988 minutes. 1:23.988 minutes is what the competition has to beat. For his part, Vettel is just driving out. This is how you want to avoid traffic.
4.
15:52
Ferrari
Carlos Sainz sets a new best time in Q3
The first lap times in Q3 are set. Carlos Sainz is currently leading with a time of 1:24.281 minutes in front of Sergio Pérez and Charles Leclerc.
2.
15:52
red bull
Pit radio Sergio Pérez
Sergio Pérez radios to ask what happened and is told that Verstappen’s car had a small problem, which is why he was delayed into Q3. Sounds like Red Bull trying to use slipstream.
1.
15:48
Q3 started
Start of Q3! In the next twelve minutes it will be decided who will get the last pole of the 2022 season! The first vehicles are already on the route.
15
15:41
Q2 ended
It doesn’t work out for Mick Schumacher! He is eliminated in 13th place. Besides him, Fernando Alonso, Yuki Tsunoda, Lance Stroll and Guanyu Zhou are also eliminated. Sebastian Vettel secures the top ten with eighth place. Pérez set the best time in Q2 ahead of Leclerc and Sainz.
14
15:38
Vettel on a good lap
Sebastian Vettel is back on a good lap and improves to fifth place. Will he manage to secure the top ten on his departure? Schumacher also improved with eighth place, but it could still be tight for him.
12.
15:38
Mercedes
Pit radio Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton is informed that he is three tenths short of Sergio Pérez. “Three tenths?” asks the Brit in disbelief.
11.
15:36
The final runs
More and more pilots are going back to the track. The final phase in Q2 has begun. Vettel and Schumacher are now on the track with fresh softs.
8th.
15:35
red bull
Pit radio Max Verstappen
“I don’t know what happened, I had zero grip in the back,” reports Verstappen over the radio. “Very strange.”
8th.
15:33
Vettel in eighth place
After the first runs in Q2, Sebastian Vettel found himself in a good eighth place. Like most, he had run the first run on the used set of softs. The Mercedes are going out onto the track for the second time and are now opting for a fresh soft.
7.
15:32
red bull
Sergio Pérez sets a new best time in Q2
Sergio Pérez sets a new Q2 best with a 1:24.419, significantly faster than Max Verstappen, who is also on fresh softs. He had taken four tenths from Verstappen.
6.
15:31
Vettel in third place
Sebastian Vettel is initially in third place. But the pilots will come from the top teams soon.
5.
15:30
Fresh softs at Red Bull
Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez go into their Q2 with fresh softs. Lando Norris is also in his first run on a fresh set of softs.
4.
15:28
Mercedes
First times are set
The first times in Q2 are set. George Russell delivers a 1:25.263. Hamilton was four tenths slower than his teammate. Maybe the brake problems at Hamilton are the reason.
3.
15:27
All on used tires
All drivers who have hit the track so far have raised used softs. Only the Red Bull and the McLaren are still in the garage.
2.
15:27
Mercedes
Pit radio Lewis Hamilton
“The brakes are still a problem,” reports Hamilton over his radio. He’s going straight into the flying lap.
1.
15:25
Q2 started
It continues with Q2 and the fight for the top ten places. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are the first drivers back on track. You are on a used soft.
18
15:20
Q1 ended
Q1 is over and Mick Schumacher also saves himself in Q2! He’s through eleventh. Kevin Magnussen, Pierre Gasly, Valtteri Bottas, Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi are eliminated.
17
15:17
Good Vettel lap
Good lap from Vettel! The Heppenheimer doesn’t let the slow cars on the track unsettle him and takes fifth place. That should be the end of Q2!
15
15:14
It goes out again
It’s back on track. Just under three minutes remain on the clock. Can Vettel and Schumacher still improve and secure their place in the top 15?
12.
15:12
First runs over
The first runs are over. Sebastian Vettel, Mick Schumacher, Valtteri Bottas as well as Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi would not be there at the moment.
10
15:11
red bull
Pit radio Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen asks that you take a look at his headrest. “I think it’s broken,” said the world champion.
9.
15:09
Vettel in 13th place
Sebastian Vettel is currently in 13th place in the interim ranking and will certainly have to add another run in the near future. Mick Schumacher is right behind in 14th place.
8th.
15:08
red bull
Max Verstappen’s new best time in Q1
It doesn’t take long before the two Red Bulls move up to the top positions. Verstappen sets the best time with a 1:24.754 ahead of Sergio Pérez, who was only 66 thousandths slow.
7.
15:07
Ferrari
Charles Leclerc’s new best time in Q1
Charles Leclerc sets a new best time in Q1 with a 1:25.211. Everyone in the field is already driving the Soft.
5.
15:05
Verstappen also starts
Max Verstappen is also getting started with the Red Bull. Russell, Ocon and Alonso are the ones left in the garage. But it shouldn’t be long before they start qualifying as well.
4.
15:04
AlphaTauri
Yuki Tsunoda sets a new best time in Q1
Yuki Tsunoda sets a new best time in Q1 with a 1:26.135. Schumacher is second, Vettel starts fourth. Eight pilots have already put down a time.
3.
15:03
Williams
First time by Latifi
The first time in qualifying comes from Nicholas Latifi, for whom it will probably be the last qualifying in Formula 1. He runs a 1:26.841.
2.
15:00
Papa Vettel watches spellbound
When Vettel leaves the Aston Martin garage, his father Norbert makes an announcement: “Come on, let’s go,” he agrees in the pits and the crew agrees with applause.
1.
15:00
Start qualifying
In the first 18 minutes it’s all about getting a place in the top 15. The first drivers are already on the track.
14:55
The weather
The sun has set in Abu Dhabi and the track temperature is currently 34 degrees. The air temperature is 29 degrees.
14:48
The distance
The track in Abu Dhabi is 5.2 kilometers long. The circuit is located on the island of Yas, a promontory cut off from the mainland by a canal. She has sixteen curves. The Yas Marina Circuit has been modified for the 2021 season. It is hoped that this will make the route more overtaking-friendly.
14:44
Last qualifying for Vettel
For Sebastian Vettel it’s about the last qualifying in a long Formula 1 career. The German ends his career after the Abu Dhabi weekend. For Mick Schumacher, too, it is the last qualifying effort for the time being after Haas awarded the cockpit to compatriot Nico Hülkenberg in 2023.
14:37
Sergio Pérez wins final training
The 3rd practice session was won by Sergio Pérez in the Red Bull. The Mexican drove a 1:24.982 and was thus 0.152 seconds faster than teammate Max Verstappen. Mercedes confirmed the form from Brazil. Lewis Hamilton finished third while George Russell was fourth. Lando Norris follows in fifth place. Ferrari, on the other hand, should not be satisfied. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz did not get past sixth and seventh place.
14:29
Who will take the runners-up title?
While there was an exciting World Championship decision at the finale in Abu Dhabi a good twelve months ago, this year everything is concentrating on the places behind. Max Verstappen is the driver’s world champion, as is Red Bull as the constructor’s world champion. Charles Leclerc and Sergio Pérez will go into the final with 290 points each. Shifts are also possible in the team ranking. Mercedes, 19 points behind Ferrari, still has a chance for second place. Alpine and McLaren also separate 19 points in the battle for fourth place. Aston Martin is currently five points behind Alfa Romeo and is hoping for sixth place. Haas, on the other hand, wants to defend his lead over AlphaTauri, which is just two points.
Warm welcome!
Hello and welcome to the last qualifying session of the 2022 season. Whoever secures pole at the season finale will be decided from 3:00 p.m.