Abu Dhabi GP: Daniel Ricciardo makes it to Q3 for what could be his final F1 race
Daniel Ricciardo said he was relieved to have made it to Q3 for only the 7th time this season as he prepares for his final race in a McLaren and possibly in F1.
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Daniel Ricciardo said he was relieved to have made it to Q3 for only the 7th time this season as he prepares for his final race in a McLaren and possibly in F1.
The Australian bows out after Abu Dhabi alongside Sebastian Vettel but unlike his former teammate is not retiring.
Ricciardo is without a drive for 2023 after being dumped from his contract 12 months early but he will remain in the sport having signed on as a reserve driver with Red Bull for next season.
Ricciardo qualified 10th for the season finale but will start from 13th due to a penalty for a collision with Kevin Magnussen in Brazil.
“I won’t miss my lack of competitiveness this year,” he told Viaplay.
“Qualifying certainly hasn’t been my strong suit obviously with this car, but to stay out there [for] the whole hour, to be in Q3, I think that was just a bit of a relief.
“Obviously I still lacked about three tenths [of a second] or something to Lando, so there’s still a little bit [of a gap],” Ricciardo said.“But, with the year it’s been, it’s no surprise. I’m happy to put up a bit of a fight till the end.”
As well as Vettel and Ricciardo, Abu Dhabi is also a final outing for Mick Schumacher and Nicholas Latifi.
WHO IS ON POLE?
Two-time world champion Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez were all smiles again on after locking out the front row of the grid for Red Bull.
Less than a week after their ‘team orders’ bust-up at the Brazilian Grand Prix, where Verstappen refused to obey an instruction to allow Perez to pass him, the two put on a united front after a clinical display of speed.
The two-time world champion clocked a best lap in one minute and 23.824 seconds to finish two-tenths clear of the Mexican, “I’m very happy that both cars are on the front row,” said the 25-year-old Verstappen.
“We want to win the race, but we also want to finish second with Checo in the championship. It’s a great start for tomorrow.”
Charles Leclerc was third ahead of Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz and the two Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, who claimed his maiden victory last weekend in Brazil.
Verstappen’s success brought him his third consecutive pole at the Yas Marina Circuit, his seventh of the season and 20th of his career ahead of a race in which he bids for a record-extending 15th win in a single season.
While Verstappen waltzed away with the world title the scrap for the runners-up spot goes down to the wire.
Perez and Leclerc are level on points, but Leclerc leads on wins. Red Bull have never enjoyed a 1-2 finish in the championship. - ‘On the same page’ -
“Max did a great job for me. We worked well as a team on that final run,” said Perez.
The pair’s mutual exchange of compliments provided a contrast to the mood at Red Bull earlier in the week after scathing remarks by both had created a discordant mood.
“We made some errors in Brazil, but understand it now and we are all on the same page now,” commented Verstappen.
“We are in a better and happier place than in Brazil.” added Perez, six days on from declaring that Verstappen had “showed who he really is” by rejecting team orders.
Leclerc, who wound up third on the grid ahead of Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz, made no excuses.
“I locked up in Turns Six and Seven,” he said. “But to be honest, it’s the place we deserve today. The Red Bulls were stronger, but we are still in quite good positions for tomorrow - it’s going to be close with Checo for sure.”
Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff was succinct in his summary of their feelings after qualifying fifth and sixth with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
“I’ve just heard that today is ‘world toilet day’,” he said. “And I think that’s one for putting in the toilet. We didn’t get the job done.”
Much as expected, following their speed in final practice, the Red Bulls of Verstappen and Perez set the pace ahead of the Ferraris on their first runs before a frantic final flurry in the first qualifying session.
That left Kevin Magnussen as the fastest of the rest, eliminated in 15th place just a week after claiming his and Haas’s maiden pole in the rain at Interlagos.
Out with him went Pierre Gasly in his last weekend with Alpha Tauri before joining Alpine, Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas and the Williams pair of Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi.
In the Q2 section Perez outpaced Verstappen by four-tenths as out went Fernando Alonso, Yuki Tsunoda of Alpha Tauri, Haas’s Mick Schumacher, Lance Stroll in the second Aston Martin and Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu, leaving Verstappen perfectly placed to make F1 history.
HOW THEY START
Front row Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull), Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull)
2nd row Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari), Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari)
3rd row Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes), George Russell (GBR/Mercedes)
4th row Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes), Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault)
5th row Sebastian Vettel (GER/Aston Martin-Mercedes), Fernando Alonso (ESP/Alpine-Renault)
6th row Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri-Red Bull), Mick Schumacher (GER/Haas-Ferrari)
7th row Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes), Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes)
8th row Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo), Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari)
9th row Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Red Bull), Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo)
10th row Alex Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes), Nicholas Latifi (CAN/Williams-Mercedes)
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THE FORMULA ONE DEBATE HAMILTON WON’T ENGAGE WITH
Eleven months on from the most controversial ending to a Formula One season ever, the sport has returned to Abu Dhabi.
No one needs reminding of that fateful night when Lewis Hamilton was on the cusp of becoming an eight-time world champion but instead Max Verstappen claimed his maiden title.
Verstappen now returns nearly a year later a double world champion, having comprehensively dominated this season. Conversely, Hamilton’s misfortunes from that evening have continued, with Mercedes providing him with an uncompetitive car. It was clear from the first race of the season in Bahrain that there would be no repeat of arguably the most thrilling of F1 seasons in history.
Last year, Hamilton and Verstappen arrived in the desert level on points after 21 races, a fitting quirk of the season which had seen them evenly matched throughout, with no shortage of controversy thrown in.
The FIA, and its then race director Michael Masi, had played its part throughout the 2021 season, generating far more headlines than any governing body should for all the wrong reasons. It was perhaps inevitable, then, that it was ultimately to decide the outcome of the championship.
Hamilton was on course to win the race but a late safety car wiped out his lead and on worn tyres he was over- taken by Verstappen on the final lap after the regulations regarding lapped cars overtaking the safety car were ignored. Mercedes launched an appeal but eventually withdrew it and the result stood, giving Verstappen the title.
The question over whether it was good or bad for the sport rumbles on. The ending generated headlines and endless debate. No doubt the growing fan base brought in by Netflix’s Drive to Survive documentary was enlarged as everyone scrambled to understand what had happened. But it also created one of the most bitter and fiercest rivalries between the drivers’ respective fans that the sport has ever known and has led to horrendous online abuse, directed at both camps.
Back in the desert again, it is impossible to avoid last year’s race – but neither driver is particularly keen to talk about it. Hamilton knew he would be asked about it this weekend and insisted he was focused on moving on.
“I don’t really think about it, so I don’t have many thoughts on the last race here. I’ve had many great experiences here in the previous years,” he said.
“From the first race that I had here in 2009 I’ve had lots of ups and downs. I’m not really necessarily focused on stuff that it’s behind me, more so on trying to be the best I can moving forwards.”
The 37-year-old vanished from the public eye for two months last year. Speculation was rife that he was on the cusp of retiring but time spent with his family helped him to put it into perspective and made him realise that F1 was still his priority.
“I don’t think so,” Hamilton said on Thursday when asked if that night had changed his attitude to racing or his belief in the sport. “I think at the beginning maybe but yeah, I think my love for the sport is still the same. And my commitment and time here hopefully is showing that. It’s just been a much, much different year, one that naturally none of us in the team expected. And it’s taught us lessons that we, again, hadn’t realised that we hadn’t experienced. And I think it’s just made us stronger. It’s been a really positive year in that respect.”
Lewis on if Max is aggressive towards him because he’s the most successful driver
— Sir Lewis Hamilton Updates (@SirLewisUpdates) November 17, 2022
“There’s definitely nothing deeper in the background [..] The only deep convo we’ve had is in 2020, in Austria, when I went to speak to him about BLM & how much it would mean if he supported that†pic.twitter.com/OqjOWAJ4Jf
While Verstappen’s championship this year was far more straightforward he has still managed to court controversy. He disobeyed Red Bull team orders at the last race in Brazil when told to allow his teammate Sergio Perez to pass, which would have helped him in his fight with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc for second in the championship. However, he is adamant that issue has been resolved and he will help this weekend if he can, though has still refused to provide any explanation as to why he did not help Perez.
Hamilton arrives in the most unfamiliar position for him since he started in F1 in 2007 – without a win to his name this season. He is the only driver to have won a race in every season he has competed and now has only one race remaining to maintain that record.
A few months ago that would have seemed impossible, but with his teammate George Russell winning the last race in Sao Paulo and Mercedes looking quick in practice on Yas Island, there is still a chance Hamilton could win his first race of the year.
A victory for the Briton would come at the perfect time, before the winter break, and give him all the momentum heading into next year. Red Bull and Mercedes are expected to be at a similar level and Hamilton will hope he is back fighting at the front against Verstappen, preferably without all the controversy of 2021.
F1 DRIVER AXED IN SEASON-ENDING BOMBSHELL
Callum Dick
Haas has dropped a bombshell on the eve of the final race of the Formula 1 season by parting ways with Mick Schumacher, son of the legendary seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher.
The driver released a statement on Thursday confirming Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix would be his last with the team.
“This is going to be my last race with Haas F1 Team. I don’t want to hide the fact that I am very disappointed about the decision not to renew our contract,” Schumacher wrote.
“Nevertheless, I would like to thank both Haas F1 and Ferrari for giving me this opportunity. Those years together have helped me to mature both technically and personally. And especially when things got difficult, I realised how much I love this sport.
“It was at times bumpy but I steadily improved, learned a lot and now know for sure that I deserve a place in Formula 1. The subject is anything but closed for me. Setbacks only make you stronger.
“My fire burns for Formula 1 and I will fight hard to return to the starting grid.”
The 23-year-old’s future with Haas beyond 2022 was up in the air for months, with team principal Guenther Steiner speaking candidly in the media about Schumacher’s struggles this season.
Steiner even publicly requested Daniel Ricciardo give him a call if the Australian was interested in driving for Haas, presumably in Schumacher’s seat, next season.
The writing appeared on the wall at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix when Schumacher finished last in qualifying while his teammate Kevin Magnussen topped the time sheet.
The German would go on to finish 13th in the main race – his ninth-straight finish outside the top 10.
Earlier this week Steiner confirmed the team would make an announcement about its second seat ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Schumacher pre-empted the team announcement by releasing his own statement.
Haas then announced former Force India and Renault driver Nico Hulkenberg would take Schumacher’s vacated seat for 2023.
“I would like to thank Mick Schumacher for his contribution to the team over the past couple of years,” Steiner said.
“Mick’s pedigree in the junior categories was well known and he has continued to grow and develop as a driver in his time with Haas F1 Team – culminating in his first Formula 1 pointscoring successes earlier this season.
“I’m naturally very pleased to be welcoming Nico Hulkenberg back to a full-time racing role in Formula 1,” Steiner added.
“The experience and knowledge base Nico brings to the team is clear to see – with nearly 200 career starts in Formula 1 – and a reputation as being a great qualifier and a solid, reliable racer. These are attributes, which when you pair them together with Kevin Magnussen’s experience, gives us a very credible and well-seasoned driver line-up which we believe will help push the team onwards up the grid.”
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