Summary

  • Rosberg on pole, Hamilton 2nd, Raikkonen 3rd

  • Perez 4th, Ricciardo 5th, Bottas 6th

  • Hamilton top in Q1 & Q2

  • Vettel out in first session with Alonso

  • Button, Verstappen & Lotuses out in Q2

  • Manors and Ericsson out in Q1

  • Get involved: your #starsoftheseason

Live Reporting

Gary Rose

  1. Jenson Button runs a little wide and it costs him a bit of time on his lap, a 1:43.619 leaves him in the dropzone. Fernando Alonso, ninth fastest in second practice on Friday, has fared much better. A 1:43.187 has him ninth for now.

    Formula 1

  2. Kimi Raikkonen goes third fastest, almost two seconds off the pace of the Mercedes. That time was set on the slower soft tyres, though.

  3. Hard at work or a bit of online Battleships?

    data slaves

  6. The timing board is lighting up now, with 12 drivers completing their first timed efforts.

    Lewis Hamilton going fastest of all with 1:40.974, while Nico Rosberg's lap is quite as good. He is P2, 0.1s slower. 

  7. Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg are both out on track and both on the supersoft tyres.

    The Ferraris of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen, meanwhile, are on the harder soft tyres.

  10. Tom Clarkson
    BBC F1 pit-lane reporter

    Both cars are out now. Daniil Kvyat had a torrid final practice after an electrical problem and he is straight out. Everybody to get through to Q2 will need to go on the supersoft tyre.

  11. First qualifying starts

    The track is open and there's a little moment for Daniel Ricciardo, a slight slip as he leaves the garage and makes his way onto the circuit. All good though.

    Ricciardo

  13. Here we go then! The final qualifying session of the year is upon us.

    Where does the time go?

  14. Ben Edwards
    BBC F1 commentator

    It is coming up to 5pm local time and we’ll be plunging into darkness during qualifying.

  16. Alonso could take sabbatical

    Here's a bit more on the story from earlier, about Fernando Alonso possibly taking a sabbatical from Formula 1 next year.

    Alonso is contracted until the end of 2017, but McLaren have struggled this season in their first year with engine partner Honda.

    Asked if there was a possibility Alonso would not race in 2016 if the car was again uncompetitive, McLaren boss Ron Dennis said: “He will definitely finish his career in McLaren.

    “I have an open mind to anything. Some of the ideas have involved those sorts of considerations - sabbatical years.”

    Read more in Andrew Benson's story here.

    AlonsoRex Features

  17. Sebastian VettelGetty Images

    However, pole position isn't a guaranteed ticket to victory in Abu Dhabi, only once in the last six years has the race been won from that position.

  18. Good news for Nico, not so much for Lewis...

  19. F1 awards

    The end of the season wouldn't be the end of the season without the BBC F1 awards. Find out who has won what on BBC One right now.

  20. A little taste of home

    Formula 1

    Did you know Yas Marina circuit was built on a man-made island, with 4,000 tonnes of aggregate shipped in from the UK to make it? 

    More Abu Dhabi GP stats and facts here.