Oscar Piastri has topped a McLaren one-two in ultimate apply for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, together with his British crew trying set to be topped Components One constructors’ world champions for the primary time since 1998.
The Australian ace recorded a finest lap time of 1 minute 23.433 seconds, 0.193 faster than his teammate Lando Norris, who had been quickest on Friday in one other one-two.
Earlier than qualifying in a while Saturday, it was a vastly encouraging efficiency from Piastri, who’s in search of to win his third grad prix of the 12 months.
And there was a promising efficiency from Australia’s Alpine debutant Jack Doohan, who completed 14th quickest solely simply 0.026sec slower than his skilled Thirteenth-placed teammate Pierre Gasly.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was third quickest, 0.390 off the tempo, in his final apply session for Mercedes earlier than he strikes to Ferrari subsequent 12 months.
Crimson Bull’s Max Verstappen, his fourth title secured in Las Vegas final month, was fourth quickest, however 0.411 slower than Piastri.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was fifth and teammate Charles Leclerc, who has a 10-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race, solely ninth.
“We’re nowhere. Nowhere,” stated Leclerc over the radio in what sounded a deflating message to his crew, who’re 21 factors behind McLaren, with 44 remaining to be received on Sunday, within the constructors’ race.
