Abu Dhabi GP: Hamilton on pole with record lap as Mercedes dominate

New five-time champion Lewis Hamilton smashed the lap record as he secured pole position at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and led teammate Valtteri Bottas to Mercedes to another front-row lockout. In a scintillating performance, the Englishman clocked a best lap in one minute and 34.794 seconds to outstrip Bottas by almost two-tenths of a second. It is his 11th pole of the season and the 83rd of his career.

Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel was third ahead of his Ferrari team-mate Sauber-bound Kimi Raikkonen, Renault-bound Daniel Ricciardo and his Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen. Romain Grosjean was seventh for Haas ahead of Ferrari-bound Charles Leclerc of Sauber, Esteban Ocon of Force India and Nico Hulkenberg of Renault.

Hamilton kissed his car after the session. “I’m so grateful for all the support we’ve had here. It’s emotional for me because it’s the last lap I’ll do in this car. I’ve been so emotionally attached to it.

“I’m just happy that this car will be in the history museum at Mercedes in Germany so I can go visit whenever I can!

“I never say there’s a perfect lap, but the first lap wasn’t spectacular. That last one started off kind of calm, but got more aggressive - and Valtteri did a great job, too!”

Bottas, still seeking his first win of the season back at the track where he last tasted victory, was again left frustrated by the imperious Hamilton’s unbeatable pace.

Vettel was quickest ahead of Bottas and the top six were separated by only threetenths of a second as both Toro Rossos were eliminated, unexpectedly, along with Stoffel Vandoorne of McLaren and the two Williams of Sergey Sirotkin and Lance Stroll.