A Season Finale to Remember - Qualifying Edition

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 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying results | Max Verstappen pole, Daniel Ricciardo slow

16 qualifying sessions have taken place in 2020 and in every single one a Mercedes powered car took pole. Yet the final qualifying of the year had a surprise in store for everyone. 

Following his recent negative covid test, Lewis Hamilton was back at the paddock and ready to continue his fine form following what has been arguably his most dominant season in F1. To the disappointment of probably the entire F1 community including myself, that meant George Russell was back at Williams and would be unable to fight for that first ever victory after the mishaps of last weekend. 

As expected, Q1 and Q2 saw the Williams, Alfa Romeo's and Haas boys out but a big surprise as neither of the Renault's made it to Q3 and neither did last week's race winner Sergio Perez. He will start from the back of the grid after taking multiple engine penalties. It will be a spicy race for the Mexican who will have plenty of overtaking to do in a car that has proven to be the 3rd best on the grid. 

Now to the real juice of qualifying. After the first set of laps, Valtteri Bottas was on provisional pole and his teammate was in 3rd with the Red Bull of Max Verstappen separating the two. Norris and Sainz put on a good show to take 4th and 5th with Alex Albon in 6th - not very good signs for the Thai driver who just isn't giving enough evidence for why he should have that coveted Red Bull seat for next year. 

5 minutes pass by and BOOM, Verstappen on pole followed by Bottas and Hamilton. Lewis was on a flyer almost one and a half tenths up on Bottas's time set earlier but a scruffy final sector meant that he would only finish 3rd. A first pole for the Dutchman and a race to definitely look forward to tonight. 

It will be a season finale to remember hopefully. Max still has an opportunity to finish 2nd in the drivers championship which he will hope to take at the hands of Bottas himself. But I'm sure the Flying Finn will give him a run for his money. The Mercedes are very strong for their long run pace and so are the McLaren's so be sure to be ready for some sensational overtakes as we close out this crazy 2020 season. 

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