Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Max Vertappen Wins Pole For His Season's First

There was no stopping Max Verstappen from claiming his first pole position of the season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as the Mercedes duo Valterri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton trailed him in the standing. 

The Red Bull driver seized the last lap of the final qualifying session to beat the Mercedes pair who had dominated for provisional poles, first Hamilton followed by his teammate Bottas before he snatched the pole taking the lead in 0.025s ahead of the Finn driver. 

Returning Hamilton finished in the third in a much larger time fraction (0.096s) behind Verstappen on his return from self-isolation after contracting coronavirus. 

"The whole season," Verstappen recalled. "Behind, behind, and getting closer it's a bit frustrating. But very, very pleased with today."

British driver George Russell who was Mercedes stand-in for Hamilton after he was tested positive for Covid-19 symptoms returned to Williams on the seven-time champion's return and finished in 16th which his countryman Lando Stroll trailed Hamilton in the fourth position. 

Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel finished out the top-10 while Red Bull's Alex Albon will start in P5 ahead of Ferrari's replacement for Vettel next season, Carlos Sainz.