F1 LIVE Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | Will Verstappen finish the season in style?
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With his 12th pole of the season, Max Verstappen is ideally placed to end an already successful '23 season with a highlight. The now three-time world champion will hunt for his 54th GP victory in Abu Dhabi, which would put him alone at spot three in the list of most F1 victories. Only Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher were more successful.
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Mercedes and Ferrari battle for spot two
For Verstappen, the race victory is at stake. For Mercedes and Ferrari, the stakes are much higher: today the decision will fall on which team finishes second in the constructors' championship. A second place earns millions more than a third, so for the teams, this is hugely important. It could still go either way, as the difference is four points in Mercedes' favour.
Ferrari has Charles Leclerc in the second starting spot, while Mercedes' best driver starts the race from fourth. Lewis Hamilton comes from midfield (11), while Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz had a dramatic qualifying session. He did not get through Q1 and starts 16th. Also notable are the starting positions are Yuki Tsunoda and Sergio Perez, both members of the Red Bull family. The Japanese driver had an excellent Saturday and starts the race from spot six. Sergio Perez, on the other hand, went off track when setting his fastest time in Q3, leaving him only ninth.
The F1 circus is keen for a holiday, but first there is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.