Summary

  • Max Verstappen takes Red Bull's first pole of season at final race

  • P2 Bottas, P3 Hamilton, P4 Norris, P5 Albon, P6 Sainz

  • Eliminated in Q2: Ocon, Ricciardo, Vettel, Giovinazzi, Perez

  • Eliminated in Q1: Raikkonen, Magnussen, Russell, Fittipaldi, Latifi

  • Tell us your 2020 F1 winners and losers

  • Get involved: Use #bbcf1 or text 81111 (UK only)

  • Use audio icon at the top of the page to listen to live commentary

Live Reporting

Matthew Henry

  1. FIA rejects Ferrari request for Sainz to take part in post-season test

    Andrew Benson
    BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

    Carlos SainzGetty Images

    Formula 1 bosses have rejected a Ferrari request for Carlos Sainz, their signing for 2021, to take part in next week's post-season test in Abu Dhabi.

    This is despite governing body the FIA allowing two-time world champion Fernando Alonso to drive for Renault.

    The test was originally intended to be for young drivers who had competed in no more than two grands prix. The FIA's decision to grant exemptions for some teams but not others has led to irritation in the pit lane.

    Rivals, who were not prepared to comment publicly, are concerned that Renault have gone back on what was originally intended to be a cost-saving move when the decision to limit the test to young drivers was made at the height of the coronavirus lockdown in April.

    And they are angry that the FIA appears to be operating a rule that does not apply consistently across all the teams.

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  3. There's a lot of love for George Russell.

    Less than half hour to go until qualifying. Remember Mercedes have only missed out on pole once this season. How will they fare today?

  4. Get Involved - 2020 winners and losers

    #bbcf1

    Rhi: Winners - Russell for securing his first points & lead a race losers - Bottas.

  5. Very good from Lando. The classic markered moustache.

    He was fifth fastest in third practice. In the mix?

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  7. Keep your thoughts coming.

  8. Get Involved - 2020 winners and losers

    #bbcf1

    George Washington: Winners - Vettel for securing a drive with Aston Martin. Stroll - a pole and two podiums, has proven doubters wrong. Losers - Bottas. Just not good enough to challenge Lewis.

  9. As we build-up to qualifying we're still after your thoughts on the winners and losers of 2020 in F1.

    Tweet your thoughts to #bbcf1.

  10. What happened in third practice?

    Red BullGetty Images

    Red Bull’s Max Verstappen set the pace in an unrepresentative final practice session at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

    Mercedes are yet to show their true pace, as Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas ended the session at Yas Marina sixth and ninth quickest.

    It’s likely that the world champions were running their engines in a low-power mode to protect against reliability issues as they come to the end of their lives.

    Verstappen’s team-mate Alex Albon was second, 0.501secs adrift and complaining of “insane understeer”.

    Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo was third, 0.626 seconds slower than Verstappen, with his team-mate Esteban Ocon fourth, just 0.022secs behind the Australian.

    McLaren’s Lando Norris was fifth, ahead of Hamilton, who was 0.761secs off the pace in a car that has failed to set pole position only once this season, and remains favourite to take it when qualifying starts at 13:00 BST.

  11. Hello again. In an hour's time the final qualifying session of 2020 will get under way.

    Who will take pole? Well, it's not as clear as it often is.

    Mercedes were quickest in second practice yesterday but Red Bull's Max Verstappen was far and away the best in this morning's session.

    We'll soon see.

  12. For the final time in 2020. It's quali time...

    Lewis HamiltonGetty Images

  13. Red Bull lead as Mercedes mask true pace

    Andrew Benson
    BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

    Max VerstappenGetty Images

    Red Bull’s Max Verstappen set the pace in an unrepresentative final practice session at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

    Mercedes are yet to show their true pace, as Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas ended the session at Yas Marina sixth and ninth quickest.

    It’s likely that the world champions were running their engines in a low-power mode to protect against reliability issues as they come to the end of their lives.

    Verstappen’s team-mate Alex Albon was second, 0.501secs adrift and complaining of “insane understeer”.

    Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo was third, 0.626 seconds slower than Verstappen, with his team-mate Esteban Ocon fourth, just 0.022secs behind the Australian.

    McLaren’s Lando Norris was fifth, ahead of Hamilton, who was 0.761secs off the pace in a car that has failed to set pole position only once this season, and remains favourite to take it when qualifying starts at 13:00 BST.

  14. The full timings

    F1 timingsFormula1

  15. Will that session have any bearing at all on qualifying? Who knows. One thing we do know is that is it for practice in 2020.

    We'll be back at 12:00 GMT to build up to qualifying.

  16. How they finish

    1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull, 1:36.251)
    2. Alex Albon (Red Bull, +0.501)
    3. Daniel Ricciardo (Renault, +1.377)
    4. Esteban Ocon (Renault, 0+648)
    5. Lando Norris (McLaren, +0.743)
    6. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes, +0.761)
    7. Lance Stroll (Racing Point, +0.779)
    8. Carlos Sainz (McLaren, +0.817)
    9. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes, +0.834)
    10. Sergio Perez (Racing Point +0.976)
  17. chequered flag

    Chequered flag - Third practice ends

    Well it ends as a Red Bull one-two in third and final practice.

    Max Verstappen leads with Alex Albon second.

    Lewis Hamilton is down in sixth.

  18. Jolyon Palmer
    Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    A Red Bull one-two. Suddenly it's looking a bit better for them.

  19. In the other Red Bull, Verstappen is flying. He increases his lead at the top yet again. It's 1:36.251.

    Albon improves and nudges Ricciardo out of second.

  20. More grumbles now from Alex Albon to the pit wall. He's saying there's understeer at all parts of the track.