F1 practice LIVE: Max Verstappen fastest in second practice ahead of George Russell and Charles Leclerc
Follow all the build-up to first practice at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton returns to the scene of the toughest moment of his career as the 2022 F1 season concludes with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend.
The Mercedes driver - who has one more shot at preserving his year-on-year win record in Formula 1 - missed out on a record-breaking eighth world title in 2021 in thrilling and controversial circumstances at Yas Marina, as Max Verstappen benefited from a botched safety car and lapped cars procedure to overtake Hamilton on the final lap.
Verstappen has cruised to a second world title this year but comes into the season finale under a dark cloud, after disobeying team orders in not allowing Sergio Perez to pass him in the closing stages of the Brazilian Grand Prix last Sunday.
Perez is level on points with Charles Leclerc in the battle for second place in the World Championship, while Mercedes are just 19 points off Ferrari in the Constructors’ Standings after George Russell led a one-two finish at Interlagos.
Follow F1 updates live with The Independent - FP1 starts at 10am (GMT)
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - FP1
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has just flown ahead of Sergio Perez and Liam Lawson of Red Bull. He’s set a lap of 128.724 on the soft tyres which is 0.202 seconds faster than Perez.
It’s going to be an interesting contest between these two this weekend.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - FP1
Not the start Pato would have been hoping for.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - FP1
Esteban Ocon sets the quickest lap of these opening stages with a 1:29.496 for Alpine but he’s quickly overtaken by Red Bull’s Sergio Perez.
Neither car is pushing it to the max but both are out there on the soft tyres which are usually the quickest.
Liam Lawson - in for Max Verstappen - sits third on a set of hard tyres. That’s a nice start for the youngster.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - FP1
This will be a session to see how the rookie drivers go.
Pato O’Ward - subbing in for Lando Norris in the McLaren - has an issue immediately and seems to have either a gear issue or a hydraulic one.
He’s asked to box after just one lap.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - FP1
Mercedes’ George Russell has left the garage early and will be one of the first drivers out on the track. Word has come through that Jack Doohan has replaced Alpine’s Fernando Alonso for the practice session.
Sebastian Vettel, in his final Formula 1 race before retirement, heads out for Aston Martin.
Constructor’s championship
Following their one-two finish last Sunday in Brazil, Mercedes are now just 19 points behind Ferrari in the constructors’ championship race to finish second.
Alpine have a firm grip on fourth after McLaren saw both Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris retire from the race at Interlagos.
Alfa Romeo are five points clear of Aston Martin and Haas are two points better off than Alpha Tauri thanks to Kevin Magnussen’s eighth-placed finish in the sprint.
Lots to play for in the final race of the season.
Perez vs Leclerc
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will fight it out this weekend for second place in the drivers’ championship.
Max Verstappen failed to give up a place for Perez in Brazil meaning that both Leclerc and Perez head into the weekend on 290 points each.
Max Verstappen admits he had almost conceded defeat before chaotic end to 2021 Abu Dhabi GP
Max Verstappen admits he had almost given up hope before the frantic end to last year’s season-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton, targeting a record-breaking eighth world title, was leading comfortably in the closing stages of the winner-takes-all race as Verstappen’s first World Championship seemed to be slipping away.
But Nicholas Latifi’s crash with five laps to go triggered a safety car, Verstappen pitted for soft tyres and a botched lapped cars procedure gave the Dutchman one final opportunity on the final lap.
The Red Bull star overtook Hamilton to claim his first world title in dramatic fashion but speaking to GQ, the 25-year-old admits that he had almost conceded defeat given Hamilton’s margin of lead before Latifi’s crash changed the complexion of the race.
Verstappen admits he had almost conceded defeat before end to 2021 Abu Dhabi GP
Lewis Hamilton was leading comfortably before a late crash and safety car gifted Verstappen one final opportunity
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Ferrari reject claims Mattia Binotto will be sacked as team principal
Ferrari have rejected claims that team principal Mattia Binotto will be axed after the end of the 2022 Formula 1 season.
A report by Italian outlet Gazzette dello Sport stated Binotto - who has been under intense scrutiny this year after a number of high-profile strategic errors from the Ferrari pit wall - would be replaced by Alfa Romeo team principal Fred Vasseur for the 2023 season.
It added that Vasseur was highly regarded by Ferrari, who supply engines to the Alfa Romeo team - which are the Sauber operation to be supplied by Audi from 2026.
However, Ferrari have moved to dismiss the speculation in a short statement online.
Ferrari reject claims Mattia Binotto will be sacked as team principal
A report in Italian media stated Binotto would be replaced by Alfa Romeo’s Fred Vasseur but the Scuderia have stated those rumours are ‘totally without foundation’
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