The season finals are now in Max Verstappen's hands.
The 2021 Formula 1 season's final qualifying session at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi saw Max Verstappen claim pole position, setting the stage for an exciting title-deciding race.
Verstappen's "bull" (Red Bull) pushed back both the Red Bull of Perez and the Ferraris of Sainz and Bottas in the qualifying session, securing a strong starting position for the race.
Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes was the fastest car on track before Verstappen took the lead, but the title rivals will start the race on different tire compounds. Verstappen will start on the soft tires, giving him the advantage of fresher, faster tires, while Hamilton will have the advantage of track position but on older tires.
This strategic setup is crucial in the intense showdown context, as Verstappen’s fresher tires are key to challenging Hamilton’s track position in the race.
The qualifying session did not affect the starting positions of Kimi Raikkonen, Sebastian Vettel, Yuki Tsunoda, or Pierre Gasly. Raikkonen, a retiring driver, failed to advance from Q1, while Tsunoda outqualified Gasly for the first time in the 2021 season.
Vettel, who is leading the overtake standings, had a disappointing Saturday and will start tomorrow's race in 15th position, a position lower than his current standing in the overtake standings.
The race will begin at 15:55 local time in Moscow on Sunday, December 12. The 2021 Formula 1 season's final race promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the season, with Verstappen and Hamilton starting the race from pole and second position respectively.
In the qualifying session, Verstappen's Red Bull outperformed its teammate Perez, as well as the Ferraris driven by Sainz and Bottas, securing a pole position for the race and setting the stage for an exciting sports battle in racing.
Despite Mercedes being the fastest car on track before Verstappen's lead, the titans Verstappen and Hamilton will face off in a race where Verstappen's fresher tires, providing an advantage in speed, and Hamilton's track position, offering an advantage in positioning, will each play significant roles in the racing debate.
