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)
Max Verstappen hits out at ‘disgusting’ abuse towards his family
Max Verstappen has told the world of Formula One not to go after his family, describing social media abuse following last weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix as “unacceptable” and “disgusting”.
Verstappen was criticised in Interlagos after he refused a Red Bull team order to yield sixth place to Sergio Perez on the last lap.
Red Bull issued a statement ahead of Sunday’s concluding round in Abu Dhabi to display a united front, labelling “death threats”, hate mail and vitriol” aimed at members of the Red Bull team and their families as “deplorable”.
Moments later, double world champion Verstappen, who was also penalised by the stewards in Brazil for crashing into Lewis Hamilton, addressed the media.
Max Verstappen hits out at ‘disgusting’ abuse towards his family
Verstappen was criticised in Interlagos after he refused a Red Bull team order to yield sixth place to Sergio Perez
Lewis Hamilton’s year-on-year F1 win record won’t be ‘prioritised’ in Abu Dhabi, says Toto Wolff
Toto Wolff says that Lewis Hamilton’s 15-year win record in Formula 1 won’t be prioritised this weekend in Abu Dhabi.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton has won at least one race in every season he’s competed in F1, dating all the way back to his rookie season of 2007, but he is yet to finish top of the podium in 2022.
This weekend’s season-finale in Abu Dhabi - where Hamilton was denied a record-breaking eighth title in dramatic and controversial fashion last year - represents the 37-year-old’s final opportunity to maintain his year-on-year record.
Should he claim victory at Yas Marina, he would be out on his own for consecutive seasons with a victory - he currently ties with Michael Schumacher’s streak from 1992 to 2006.
Lewis Hamilton’s year-on-year F1 win record won’t be ‘prioritised’ in Abu Dhabi
The seven-time world champion has won a race in every season he’s competed in F1 - but is yet to taste victory in 2022
Eight drivers to stand in for full-time drivers in FP1
Eight drivers will stand in to replace teams’ usual full-time drivers in FP1 for the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The likes of veteran Robert Kubica, IndyCar racer Pato O’Ward and Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich will take part in opening practice on Friday at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
Haas, Williams, Aston Martin, Ferrari and Red Bull are among the teams to be fielding a substitute driver for FP1.
Jack Doohan will race for Alpine though it is yet to be confirmed who will sit out for him.
Elsewhere, Felipe Drugovich sits in for Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Pietro Fittipaldi subs for Mick Schumacher (Haas), Robert Kubica drives for Alfa Romeo over Zhou Guanyu, Red Bull’s Liam Lawson is in for Max Verstappen, Pato O’Ward takes the McLaren ahead of Lando Norris, Nicholas Latifi sits this one out as Logan Sargeant drives for Williams and finally Robert Shwartzman subs in for Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
Max Verstappen overtakes Michael Schumacher as record-breaking season continues
Max Verstappen earned an unprecedented 14th race win in a Formula One season with Sunday’s victory in Mexico.
The 25-year-old Dutchman broke the record previously held by Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel, albeit in a longer season.
Schumacher won 13 races out of 18 in the 2004 season and Vettel 13 of 19 in 2013, with Verstappen matching the latter by winning the United States Grand Prix a week ago before moving out on his own on Sunday.
With Sao Paulo and Abu Dhabi still to come, he can still get up to 16 wins this season.
It is notable that he has achieved it with far fewer pole positions than either Vettel or Schumacher, who had nine and eight respectively while Verstappen’s in Mexico was only his sixth of the campaign.
Max Verstappen overtakes Michael Schumacher as record-breaking season continues
The Dutchman’s victory in Mexico on Sunday was a 14th race win of the year
Michael Schumacher’s F1 car auctioned for record $14.9m
Michael Schumacher’s Formula One car has gone for a whopping $14.9 million in a Switzerland auction.
The car, auctioned off in Geneva, has broken records to become the most expensive F1 car in history. It was driven by the racing star when he won the sixth of his seven world titles, finishing just two points ahead of Kimi Raikkonen.
The auction house is “delighted” to achieve a record price for the car as it “truly reflects the importance of this chassis.”
Mick Schumacher could be handed potential F1 lifeline by Mercedes
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has hinted that Mick Schumacher could be offered a reserve role with the Silver Arrows after the German driver lost his F1 seat at Haas.
After two years with Haas, the 23-year-old was dropped for 35-year-old Nico Hulkenberg for 2023, the team confirmed on Thursday morning.
Schumacher is now short of options for next year, with the only available seat technically available - at Williams - set to be taken up by American driver Logan Sargeant, provided he gains the required number of superlicence points at this weekend’s Formula 2 finale in Abu Dhabi.
Yet Schumacher could still be in the F1 paddock next year should he find a reserve role - and Wolff did not dismiss the prospect when asked recently.
Mick Schumacher could be handed potential F1 lifeline by Mercedes
Mick’s father, seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, raced with Mercedes for three years
Mick Schumacher replaced by Nico Hulkenberg at Haas for 2023
Mick Schumacher is facing a fight to save his Formula One career after being dropped by Haas.
The son of the seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher will be replaced by Nico Hulkenberg next year.
Hulkenberg, 35, has been without a full-time seat on the grid since 2019, but following a number of substitute appearances in recent seasons, will team up with Kevin Magnussen in 2023.
Schumacher, 23, followed in his father’s footsteps by landing an F1 drive in 2021. However, Haas has decided to part company with the German, 16th in the standings and 13 points adrift of team-mate Magnussen, after this weekend’s concluding round in Abu Dhabi.
Mick Schumacher replaced by Nico Hulkenberg at Haas for 2023
The son of the seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher will be replaced by Nico Hulkenberg ext year
Mayhem, mischief and Masi: Abu Dhabi, one year on
The stage was set.
Billed as the Decider in the Desert, the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was the final chapter in a Formula 1 season for the ages. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were battered and bruised – but still in the fight. Level quite astoundingly on 369.5 points after 21 races, it all came down to this.
Now, as F1 returns to Abu Dhabi for the first time since that thrilling and controversial finale last year, The Independent revisits the story of Sunday 12 December 2021 from the eyes of those at the Yas Marina Circuit and around the world as history played out in a conclusion nobody could have foreseen...
Mayhem, mischief and Masi: Abu Dhabi, one year on
As Formula 1 returns to Abu Dhabi, Kieran Jackson revisits the spectacle and the scandal of the sport’s most dramatic finale between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the final Formula 1 race of the season. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix gets underway today with two practice sessions at 10am and 1pm.
Mercedes come into the race having secured their first victory of the year when George Russell took top spot on the podium in Brazil. It’s been a difficult season for the team as they’ve struggled to get the best out of the W13 but there is hope that they’ve finally cracked it. Russell’s teammate, Lewis Hamilton, returns to Abu Dhabi one-year on from the lowest moment of his career when Max Verstappen snatched the World Championship away from him on the final lap of the final race in 2021. Can Hamilton earn some redemption this weekend?
We’ll have all the coverage and updates from both practice sessions so stick with us.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies