It's the final stage of the Felipe Massa farewell tour. Emotions ran high in Brazil as he retired in his home race, but it did provide one of the most memorable moments in any sport as he received a guard of honour while walking down the pitlane.

Good to see him with a smile on his face now as he talks to the DJ Example.

Sergio Perez goes quickest with 1:44.046 on supersofts but his stay at the top is a short one as Max Verstappen shaves 1.5 seconds off that time to go quickest. He's got the supersofts on his Red Bull.

Fifteen minutes in and the two title rivals roll out for the first time. Both Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton are out on the supersofts.

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Unicorn Estates: Surely considering British & German strength in the sport the final races should be Hockenheim then Silverstone. Imagine!

Tom Woolnough: Abu Dhabi is one of my favourite circuits but Brazil has so many finale memories. 2008 the most memorable for me  

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Jenson Button is circulating slowly on his installation lap.

"Can we have a look at the first-to-second shift," he asks.

He'll not want to take any risks that could compromise his chances of completing tomorrow's race.

It's been a pretty low key start to the session. We've only had eight cars out and one time on the board - Daniil Kvyat with a 1:49.133 set on the super softs.

Tom Clarkson
BBC Radio 5 live commentator

I'm outside the Force India garage in front of Nico Hulkenberg's car. Just as they were trying to fire it up they found it had a fuel system problem. The car is up on the jacks and they say it will not be until at least halfway through the session that they get him out.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Abu Dhabi

Toro Rosso had a difficult day on Friday, forced to stop running after a puncture for Daniil Kvyat early in second practice made it two for the day. The Russian was not happy - swearing over the radio about how much the repeated punctures, which have been happening intermittently all year, were annoying him. The punctures are caused by wheel failures caused by the suspension under cornering load, but team boss Franz Tost admitted Toro Rosso are not completely clear what is happening. A tweak has been made overnight in an attempt to solve the problem. 

Daniil Kvyat is straight out onto the circuit in the Toro Rosso, and  I'd imagine he will be a bit tentative after he had two punctures on Friday.

One hour of final practice is under way. 

Nico Rosberg is in no rush to head out. He strolls into the Mercedes garage, big headphones on. 

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Abu Dhabi

Lewis Hamilton is gently turning the screw on Nico Rosberg this weekend, on Friday stating outright a belief he has always held - that he is simply a faster driver than the German. “I have come here to be quickest,” Hamilton said.

“I know I am quicker so it is about going and actually doing it. For sure it feels good, but it doesn't really matter if he’s second, so he’s probably more relaxed, whereas I am fighting and chasing.” Hamilton even made a reference to the Rosberg’s wins in the final three races of 2015, after the title had been decided. 

“I wasn't pushing so much last year clearly hence why the other dude won the last few races,” he said. “But it was not important at the time. But I will be pushing this weekend to the max.” 

Third practice gets under way in a little under 10 minutes and you can listen to commentary from the track online via this page or the BBC Sport app.

Qualifying is at 13:00 GMT, and commentary on that will be online and on 5 live sports extra.

It should be a simple enough task for Nico Rosberg this weekend. Qualify at the front of the grid, stay out of trouble and finish in the top three.

Here's the full breakdown of who needs what to win the title.

Image source, .

Image source, .

Image source, Getty Images

Photographers may disagree, but not everyone sees Abu Dhabi as a fitting arena for an F1 title race finale.

Which circuit do you think would be the best to host a decisive title battle? Where have your most memorable ones taken place?

Let us know via #bbcf1, external

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Abu Dhabi

It certainly seemed like business as usual at Yas Marina on Friday. Lewis Hamilton was fastest in both sessions, Nico Rosberg not far behind - only 0.079 seconds behind, to be accurate, on their qualifying simulation runs in the evening. Both Mercedes men were happy with progress made on the first practice day. 

Hamilton says his “sole focus” is getting pole position, because overtaking is so difficult around Yas Marina. But the lead does not only give him the chance to take the win he desperately needs as the first part of the jigsaw that would make up the 12-point deficit to Rosberg. 

A first-lap lead also gives Hamilton the opportunity to control the pace of the race and perhaps back Rosberg into the Red Bulls and Ferraris - a tactic he has dismissed but which Red Bull boss Christian Horner says is the only thing he can do to try to win the title.

Hello! Welcome along to our coverage of qualifying day for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Any Formula 1 fans who are psychologists will be having a field day analysing the two protagonists in the title battle.

Lewis Hamilton arrived at the circuit today looking like a picture of calm and focus...  

Image source, Getty Images

...and if Nico Rosberg is feeling the pressure, he didn't show it when he arrived...

Image source, get

...but do their outward appearances belie their feelings inside?

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Abu Dhabi

Listen to Fernando Alonso and it would seem that Lewis Hamilton has next to no chance of winning the world championship. 

“Mercedes have been dominating quite easily every single race of the year,” the McLaren driver said. “So I don’t expect coming to the final race someone putting a lot of pressure on them. I expect first and second for the Mercedes on the grid and first and second on Sunday.” 

Will it be that easy for Nico Rosberg to tie up the title this weekend? Final practice and qualifying will provide the beginnings of an answer. 

But on Friday there was at least the hint that another team might get involved, which is exactly what Hamilton needs.

Image source, Getty Images

"If he is labelled the world champion it doesn’t necessarily mean that is the way it is in my heart."

Whatever happens on the track this weekend, the above quote suggests Lewis Hamilton will still see himself as the true world number one. Either that, or he is really ramping up the mind games.

If things don't go his way in qualifying today, mind games might be all he has left...