Hamilton advantage: on the eve of the last qualifications of the year on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. local (2:00 p.m. French, GMT +1), at sunset, it was the Briton who put the pressure on his young Dutch opponent, ahead of him by 641 / 1000th.
The Frenchman Esteban Ocon (Alpine) and Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) even interspersed, placing Verstappen 4th.
If he is led 5 to 9 in the game of pole positions for the moment before the 22nd Grand Prix of the year, Hamilton remains on two leading positions in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
In Jeddah last week, Verstappen was off on a perfect lap to beat Hamilton's time when he faulted on the very last corner, leaving pole to the seven-time world champion.
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Read alsoF1, Abu Dhabi GP: Hamilton in the lead, Verstappen 4th in the second free practice session
After an ubiquitous Grand Prix and many twists and turns, Hamilton won, offering an incredible final to the Emirates: the two rivals for the crown are tied on points (369.5), a first since 1974. The Briton, who has won three victories in the last three rounds, has for him the trend.
But the Dutchman has another advantage: his nine wins against eight in GP this year.
If it is played on a regular basis, may the best win: the one who scores more points on Sunday will be champion.
But if they end up tied (if one finishes 9th and the other 10th with the fastest lap, either two points each, or neither scores points, either finishing out of the top 10 or retiring), Verstappen will be crowned with more wins.
If the possibility exists that it will end in a crash (as in Silverstone with the abandonment of Verstappen, or in Monza with a double abandonment), the protagonists hope it does not come to this.
"It's almost like in Squid Game (hit series on Netflix, Editor's note)
Christian horner
"
Nobody approaches the race by saying that it will end in an accident
", rejected Christian Horner, boss of the Red Bull team. “
There is speculation but our goal is to win on the track
”. "
It's almost like in Squid Game (successful series on Netflix, Editor's note), the fact of arriving here tied,
" he had fun. “
Everything will be played on Sunday. Whoever wins will deserve it
“, Said his Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff.
The Yas Marina circuit was a private preserve of Mercedes until last year, with six poles and six victories between 2014 and 2019. But in 2020, the Dutchman of Red Bull surprised by taking pole and victory .
An element of uncertainty is added this year: the route has been modified in order to be faster and more conducive to overtaking.
In view of the first tests, the changes are going well in Hamilton: preceded in the first session by Verstappen, the Englishman corrected the shot and put his opponent more than six tenths.
Kimi Räikkönen in the background
Mercedes and Red Bull are also vying for the constructors' title.
The German team are favorites with 28 points ahead and a maximum of 44 still available.
Finally, the paddock bids farewell to Finland's Kimi Räikkönen, who will retire after 19 seasons since 2001 and a world title with Ferrari in 2007. On Friday, the 42-year-old driver sent his Alfa Romeo into the background at the end of the session.
He got out of his damaged car safely.
Before qualifying, the drivers will have a third final hour of free practice, Saturday at 2:00 p.m. local (11:00 a.m. French).
Like the qualifications, the race on Sunday will take place at sunset at 5:00 p.m. local (2:00 p.m. French).