The stage is about for a dramatic Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying session after an FP3 outing that introduced with it a purple flag, a pit lane crash, and a shock pole place contender
Every little thing that you must know forward of qualifying on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after George Russell topped FP3 on Saturday. The ultimate apply session was crammed with drama, together with two crashes involving Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Antonelli and Yuki Tsunoda.
Russell within the combine : George Russell was quickest in FP3 on the Yas Marina Circuit, going four-thousandths of a second sooner than Lando Norris. The Brit has seemed robust all through all three apply outings, and group principal Toto Wolff believes that the 27-year-old is a contender for pole place.
Norris going robust : The World Championship chief is in a superb place after FP3. The Brit was quickest in each of Friday’s apply outings and was a hair’s breadth behind Russell in FP3. The Bristol-born driver solely wants a podium to develop into world champion on Sunday, and he’s well-placed to contend for pole.
Verstappen sad : Max Verstappen completed immediately under championship rival Lando Norris for the third consecutive apply session on Saturday morning, and the Pink Bull driver was removed from content material together with his set-up. “The issue is that the automotive nonetheless jumps,” he complained to race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase on the radio. “I am unable to hold my ft on the pedals.”
Hamilton’s purple flag crash : Hamilton’s depressing season took one other flip for the more serious in FP3. The legendary Brit got here acropper at Flip 9, dropping management on the within kerb and spinning right-front-first into the boundaries, bringing out the purple flag. “One thing buckled on the entrance and snapped the rear,” he advised Riccardo Adami, explaining the shunt.
Pit lane investigation : Antonelli and Mercedes can be investigated by the stewards after the Italian racer was launched into the trail of Pink Bull’s Tsunoda within the pit lane. The contact prompted vital injury to the Japanese racer’s RB21, slicing his session quick.
Mercedes’ pledge : The Silver Arrows will keep out of the Drivers’ Championship combat, regardless of McLaren being a buyer group with Mercedes energy models. “Now we have to maintain out of this,” Wolff advised Sky Sports activities F1 after FP3. “It is a three-way combat between three drivers. The Constructors’ Championship has been received by McLaren with our energy unit. Could the very best man win tomorrow.”
