F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix LIVE: Race build-up and latest updates today

Lando Norris believes he has the “best seat” to watch the Formula One title showdown after qualifying third in Abu Dhabi – but admits he does not want to cause any controversy as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen vie for the championship.

While Red Bull’s Verstappen stole a march on Hamilton by sealing pole position ahead of the Mercedes with the pair locked on 369.5 points in the standings, Norris put in a fine lap to take third for McLaren.

The 22-year-old will now be aiming for a fifth podium of the season at the Yas Marina Circuit, but he knows he will be playing second fiddle to the title protagonists.

“I think I am in the best seat for tomorrow,” he said. “I’m very excited to see everything unfold. It is a genuine pleasure to be in this position, see everything that has been going on this season between Max and Lewis.

“To watch the battle and the racing, as I have a lot of respect for them, it gives me the prime position for the view tomorrow.

“I am a bit nervous because I want to stay where I am and watch everything unfold over the first few laps or the whole race.

“But I also don’t want to get involved too much as it could cause controversy. I don’t know whether to go for the move, not go for the move, you tell me?”

Some housekeeping for you all with the relevant timings and TV and streaming information for today’s race.

The race itself begins at 1pm (8am EST) on Sunday afternoon.

Sky Sports F1 and Channel 4, who belatedly struck a deal for the season finale, will have both carry live coverage of the race.

Sky Sports’ race coverage starts at 11.30am on Sunday, while Channel 4 begin their coverage at 12pm, with highlights running at 5.30pm.

Sky Sports customers can stream all of the coverage from the above channels through the Sky Go app.

Viewers in the US can watch via ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

Russian rookie Nikita Mazepin will not race today after testing positive for Covid, his Haas team have confirmed.

Mazepin will not be replaced and Haas will run with only one driver, Mick Schumacher, because rules prohibit a driver who has not taken part in at least one session from racing on Sunday.

“Nikita is physically well, having been asymptomatic, but he will now self-isolate and adhere to the guidelines of the relevant public health authorities, with safety the ultimate priority for all parties concerned,” the American team’s statement said.

Mazepin, who was set to start last on the grid, is the eighth driver to have tested positive for COVID-19 since last season.

The 22-year-old, who will be staying at Haas alongside Schumacher next year, had appeared in a video released by Formula One on Saturday, urging people to get vaccinated.

Formula One teams have operated in a protective bubble with regular testing since last year, though protocols have been eased and fans allowed back at races in high numbers.

Hamilton, meanwhile, gave a churlish response when asked if a similar tactic had been mooted with his team-mate Valtteri Bottas.

“No, it wasn’t discussed. We have never really done that,” he said.

“I would like Valtteri to focus on him. We work as team, it is never something we discus or work on and I don’t believe it should be done.”

Hamilton was jeered by a large Dutch support as he spoke after taking second – but claimed that will only spur him on: “There’s a lot of orange here, but I don’t care, it doesn’t make any difference to me.

“It makes no difference to how I go about my life. If anything I use it as fuel, so I am grateful for it one way or another.”

Verstappen also revealed a pre-qualifying plan with team-mate Sergio Perez worked to perfection, the second Red Bull giving a tow in his slipstream to boost the Dutchman’s time on his fastest effort.

“It was discussed before qualifying,” he added. “It was nicely executed as well, but it is not whatever the gap was. I might have gained a tenth (of a second) towards turn nine.

“Checo is a great team-mate and a real pleasure to work with, also a big ‘thank you’ to him.”

Verstappen did not have it all his own way, however, as he flat-spotted what would have been his race tyre having run wide during the second qualifying session.

The Red Bull will now start on the soft tyre, seemingly not the best race compound, with Hamilton set to start on the preferred medium rubber.

Team boss Christian Horner admitted the flat spot had “forced the hand” of Red Bull on race strategy.

“It is an amazing feeling,” said Verstappen. “We definitely improved the car again in qualifying. So far this weekend it has been on and off, but I’m incredibly happy with this. It is never easy, especially with their form in the past few races.

“I felt good on both tyres. Naturally in the evening it is a bit cooler, so it should be easier for the soft tyres, but we will see tomorrow.

“Of course in Q2 I had my flat spot on the mediums and had to go out on the softs again. The car felt pretty decent in these final two laps.”

Hamilton was ultimately pleased to qualify second after conceding his Mercedes could not match the one minute 22.109 seconds which saw Verstappen seal pole – the Brit also joking he was pleased to know where his rival would be given the suggestions he could be run off the track.

“Max did a great lap today so we just couldn’t compete with that time at the end. It was looking really strong in practice,” he said.

“We couldn’t answer that lap, it was a fantastic lap from him, but we are in a good position. I couldn’t beat that time he did today and he fully deserved the pole. I’m grateful I can see where he is.

“The car was good, Max did a great job on that final lap. Generally, through practice and into qualifying, the car felt solid. The last two laps weren’t easy…I definitely can’t complain, but of course we wish we were a bit quicker today.”

This is where we are at with one race to go in what has been a thrilling Formula 1 season.

1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull: 369.5

2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes: 369.5

3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes: 218

4. Sergio Pérez, Red Bull: 190

5. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari: 158

6. Lando Norris, McLaren: 154

7. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari: 149.5

8. Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren: 115

9. Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri Honda: 100

10. Fernando Alonso, Alpine: 77

The upshot of the win in Saudi Arabia last weekend, as well as the fastest lap, means Hamilton and Verstappen are now locked on 369.5 points with one race of the season remaining.

The pair have been trading places at the top of the standings all season.

Hamilton has won the last three races and also set the fastest lap in Sunday’s enthralling Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, moving him level with Verstappen on 369.5 points.

Neither driver needs to win in Abu Dhabi to claim the crown, it will purely be down to who finishes in the better position.

If both drivers fail to finish the race, Verstappen would be crowned world champion by virtue of winning nine races this season to Hamilton’s eight.

While Hamilton has seven titles to his name and is looking for a record eighth crown, Verstappen is seeking a maiden championship success.

Max Verstappen came flying back to clinch pole position at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a fine lap to leave title rival Lewis Hamilton starting second on the grid.

After Hamilton dominated the practice sessions in his Mercedes – in his quest for a record eighth Formula One world championship – Verstappen, with a tow in the slipstream of Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, set an unassailable time of one minute 22.109 seconds to clinch what could prove to be the most important pole of his career.

Verstappen went into the season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit tied level with defending champion Hamilton at the top of the standings.

Hamilton will at least start second, clocking a time 0.371 seconds slower as the title protagonists locked out the front row.

McLaren’s Lando Norris put in a fine display to qualify third for McLaren as Perez went fourth fastest in the second Red Bull.