Max Verstappen secures his 12th pole of the season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with Charles Leclerc second… but Lewis Hamilton’s woes continue as he fails to make Q3, while Carlos Sainz will begin in 16th

Max Verstappen will start the season-finale Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in pole position after a scintillating qualifying performance.

The world champion – who secured his 12th pole of the season – will be joined on the front row by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

However, Lewis Hamilton’s woes continued as he failed to make Q3, with the Brit to start in 11th, while the second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz is down in 16th place.

Hamilton’s team-mate, George Russell, fared better and will line up in fourth while Oscar Piastri narrowly edged out Lando Norris to secure third place.

This all means four different constructors make up the top four positions.

It is the three-time world champion’s 12th pole of what has been a remarkable 2023 season

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will join him on the front row after a rapid time right at the end of Q3

Verstappen dominated from start to finish on Saturday, with the Dutchman leading Q1, Q2 and Q3.

He was closely rivalled by Norris for most of the afternoon, who was up in second heading into the final minutes of Q3, before he was outshone by Piastri and then Leclerc’s last-gasp time.

However, Sainz endured a disastrous experience as he went out in Q1 after struggling with extra traffic coming out of the pit lane.

Speaking to Sky Sports after his elimination, the Spaniard expressed his frustration as he said: ‘It was a very bad situation we found ourselves in, leaving the pits as the last car. 

‘Also the situation with the traffic in the first and second sector, all the guys who had just finished their lap. I don’t think they got out of way very nicely but it is our fault. 

Oscar Piastri (right) will line up in third behind Leclerc (left) and Verstappen (centre)

It was disaster for Lewis Hamilton however, with the Brit going out in the second session in 11th

‘We had problem in the front wing which delayed us quite a bit. This has been a tricky weekend because it’s not the pace we need.’

The disappointing performances of Sainz and Hamilton have extra intrigue added to them, given Ferrari and Mercedes are battling it out for second place in the Constructors’ Championship, with Hamilton’s team currently four points ahead of their rivals. 

But Sainz was downbeat about Ferrari’s chances after his display. He added: ‘It will be very difficult to secure P2 in the Constructors’ Championship now. We need to work out what to do to get decent points tomorrow.’

Meanwhile, behind fifth place Norris, Yuki Tsunoda, Fernando Alonso, Nico Hulkenberg, Sergio Perez – who had a late lap time deleted – and Pierre Gasly make up the top 10.

Carlos Sainz also endured a poor display as he crashed out in the first qualifying session

Verstappen’s team-mate, Sergio Perez, could only muster ninth after having a lap time deleted