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In the last Grand Prix of the year, Max Verstappen started from pole for the first time.
4.35 pm, December 12, 2020
Dutch Max verstappen reached on saturday in Abu dhabi The fastest time in qualifying for the third time in his Formula 1 career, he was 0.025 seconds ahead of the Finn at Red Bull. Valtteri Bottas and thus ended the Mercedes series in the emirate that had been happening since 2014. World champion Lewis hamilton He came third on his return after a corona infection (0.086).
On his last lap it worked for Verstappen, who has already placed in the top three of the standings 13 times this year. “I said earlier that the season could end well. Everything went perfect on the last lap.” In the end, Bottas had initially stolen the best time from his Mercedes teammate Hamilton, Verstappen was then 25 thousandths faster.
The last “pole” for Red Bull had in Abu Dhabi Mark Webber Achieved in 2013, since then Mercedes has always been in first and second position in the standings. Verstappen saw the best time on Saturday as a reward for the increase during the season. “We (Mercedes, note) are getting closer and closer, so I am very satisfied,” the 23-year-old said on ORF television.
In Sunday’s race (2.10pm CET / ORF 1 live and Sky) he wanted to try to keep the Mercedes drivers behind him, the nine-GP winner said. Most recently he had it at the F1 anniversary GP in Silverstone triumphs. The statistics speak for Verstappen: in the last five years, the winner has always started from pole.
But Mercedes drivers believe in their opportunity. Bottas bets that the “Silver Arrows” will be stronger at race distance. Seven-time world champion Hamilton was initially thankful that he was lost after Sakhir-GP I could go back to the cockpit. But it is not 100 percent yet, the 35-year-old said. “I can still feel something in my lungs. With the virus, you feel empty and recovery takes longer than normal.”
Once seated in the car, however, the racing error is there. “I’m trying to get back on track. I had trouble balancing the car, it felt different than before,” said the British winner last year. “At this circuit it is an advantage to be the first to start. But it will be exciting, I will think of something.”
by Sebastian Vettel At the end of his commitment to Ferrari, there was initially no sense of accomplishment. The four-time champion (with Red Bull) missed the final qualifying round for the thirteenth time in a row.
