Lewis Hamilton says Red Bull chief Christian Horner is ‘stirring things’ over team move claims
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F1 returns to Abu Dhabi this weekend for the usual season-finale at the Yas Marina Circuit.
Max Verstappen won the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix last week for his 18th victory of a record-breaking season. The Dutchman has now won six races in a row since Carlos Sainz’s victory in Singapore in September.
Charles Leclerc finished second in Vegas after a terrific last-lap overtake on Sergio Perez, who despite dropping down to third place still sealed second in the world championship for Red Bull’s first-ever one-two finish in a Formula 1 season.
Lewis Hamilton is still chasing his first win in nearly two years as Mercedes look to stave off Ferrari in the battle for second place in the constructors’ championship. Toto Wolff’s team are four points clear ahead of the final grand prix of the season.
Follow live updates from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with The Independent
F1 ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX – QUALIFYING
Show latest update
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FP3 underway!
Third and final practice is underway! Lewis Hamilton the first driver out on track…
Not usually a representative session given the temperatures in the Abu Dhabi sun, but after limited running on Friday, it could well be crucial!
Kieran Jackson25 November 2023 10:32
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FP3 in Abu Dhabi…
Third practice at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix coming right up – it’s set to be a hectic one after the two crashes yesterday!
Kieran Jackson25 November 2023 10:26
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Christian Horner reveals talks with Lewis Hamilton’s father over Red Bull seat
Following on from an interview Horner gave saying that a representative of Hamilton had been in touch about joining the world champions, Hamilton had his say on Thursday – insisting that nobody from his team has been in touch and, in fact, Horner messaged him on an old phone.
The Mercedes driver added that Horner was simply “stirring things.”
Yet the Red Bull team principal looked to put the speculation to bed by divulging that it was Hamilton’s father and former manager Anthony who had touched base.
Kieran Jackson25 November 2023 10:22
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REPLAY: Carlos Sainz hitting the wall in practice
Kieran Jackson25 November 2023 10:15
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Mick Schumacher returns to racing with Alpine in 2024
The 24-year-old has been present in the Formula 1 paddock this season as a reserve driver for Mercedes, driving in the simulator and providing cover for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
The German driver, son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, was dropped from his F1 race seat at Haas at the end of the 2022 season after two years but after experiencing a year without racing in 2023, Schumacher will race for Alpine in their Hypercar squad next season.
Kieran Jackson25 November 2023 10:11
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Constructors’ Championship ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix:
1) Red Bull – 822 points (champions)
5) Aston Martin – 273 points
8) AlphaTauri – 21 points
9) Alfa Romeo – 16 points
Kieran Jackson25 November 2023 09:58
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Walking with the stars: Inside the white lines of the Las Vegas Grand Prix grid
Feature by Kieran Jackson
It’s Saturday night in Sin City, 9pm local time. One hour until lights out. Walking out of the media centre, across the car park of the Tuscany Suites and Casino, and up through the various security checkpoints, you arrive at the highly coveted, yet strangely downplayed open space that is the Formula One paddock. Halfway down, between the garages of Aston Martin and Alfa Romeo, lies the grid access lane: a portal to the forthcoming chaos.
There is a chill in the air. A cool 15C temperature which, predicted all week, is about to play havoc with tyres in the 50 laps ahead. A pause for breath and then the steel-faced American bodyguard gives the go-ahead. On you stroll, pretending you belong here. Welcome to the curiously flummoxing experience that is the F1 pre-race grid.
Kieran Jackson25 November 2023 09:52
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Driver Standings ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix:
1) Max Verstappen – 549 points (champion)
2) Sergio Perez – 273 points
3) Lewis Hamilton – 232 points
4) Carlos Sainz – 200 points
5) Fernando Alonso – 200 points
6) Lando Norris – 195 points
7) Charles Leclerc – 188 points
8) George Russell – 160 points
9) Oscar Piastri – 89 points
10) Lance Stroll – 73 points
11) Pierre Gasly – 62 points
12) Esteban Ocon – 58 points
13) Alex Albon – 27 points
14) Yuki Tsunoda – 13 points
15) Valtteri Bottas – 10 points
16) Nico Hulkenberg – 9 points
17) Daniel Ricciardo – 6 points
18) Zhou Guanyu – 6 points
19) Kevin Magnussen – 3 points
20) Liam Lawson – 2 points
21) Logan Sargeant – 1 point
21) Nyck de Vries – 0 points
Kieran Jackson25 November 2023 09:48
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What is the race schedule?
Free practice 3: 10:30amQualifying: 2pm
Kieran Jackson25 November 2023 09:45
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F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying!
Good morning and welcome to live coverage of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix!
It’s the 22nd and final race of the season this weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit with Max Verstappen looking to record his 19th victory of the season after what has been an incredible year.
Stay right here for all the updates – third practice is at 10:30am (GMT) with qualifying at 2pm!
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson25 November 2023 09:35
