Max Verstappen and Red Bull won their bet by using Lieutenant Pérez, to secure pole position and regain the advantage over Hamilton and Mercedes for the race.
While pole position seemed promised to Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes, Red Bull et Max Verstappen have been able to play on the strategy to dethrone the Black Arrows in Yas Marina.
Austrian single-seaters conceded more or less 2 tenths of a second in the second sector. That’s why they opted for the two-way solution! Sergio Pérez sacrificed himself to allow Max Verstappen to take the aspiration on his single-seater in the two straights that make up the Yas Marina circuit. Result, at the end of the round, it is the Mercedes which concedes 3 tenths of a second behind.
But the big one surprise of these qualifications resides in tire and strategic choices at the beginning. The Red Bull will fly from pole position and 3rd place in soft gums. While the Mercedes will start from 2nd and 6th place in medium erasers.
However, the soft tires offer a real advantage when it comes time to fly off the starting grid. Lewis Hamilton will therefore be in difficulty for the first part of this race. But if he manages to take off perfectly and maintain his 2nd position at worst, he will find himself with the advantage of his harder tires. Indeed, the Briton will be able to afford to attack more with tires and lengthen his first stint in the race.
We also note the very nice performance by Lando Norris which rediscovers colors under the night of the United Arab Emirates, with a 3e position. Conversely, we notice the misshapen Pierre Gasly which is done exit in Q2 for the 4th time this season. This is the first time his teammate has beaten him in qualifying this season.
See you tomorrow at 2 p.m. for thehe Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021, which will be broadcast live on Auto-Moto. In the meantime, here is the starting grid:
- Max Verstappen – Red Bull
- Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes
- Lando Norris – McLaren
- Sergio Pérez – Red Bull
- Carlos Sainz – Ferrari
- Valtteri Bottas – Mercedes
- Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
- Yuki Tsunoda – Alpha Tauri
- Esteban Ocon – Alpine
- Daniel Ricciardo – McLaren
- Fernando Alonso – Alpine
- Pierre Gasly – Alpha Tauri
- Lance Stroll – Astonn Martin
- Antonio Giovinazzi – Alfa Romeo
- Sebastian Vettel – Aston Martin
- Nicholas Latifi – Williams
- George Russell – Williams
- Kimi Raikkonen – Alfa Romeo
- Mick Schumacher – Haas
- Nikita Mazepin – Haas
Photo : Icon Sport
To read on Auto-Moto:
F1 – Abu Dhabi: the new Yas Marina circuit in on-board camera
Formula 1: What bonus for Verstappen or Hamilton in the event of a title?
F1 – GP Abu Dhabi: Hamilton or Verstappen world champion if …
F1 records 2021: the Hamilton eight?
Julien Fébreau or the art of commenting on an F1 Grand Prix – PODCAST
Max Verstappen and Red Bull won their bet by using Lieutenant Pérez, to secure pole position and regain the advantage over Hamilton and Mercedes for the race.
While pole position seemed promised to Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes, Red Bull et Max Verstappen have been able to play on the strategy to dethrone the Black Arrows in Yas Marina.
Austrian single-seaters conceded more or less 2 tenths of a second in the second sector. That’s why they opted for the two-way solution! Sergio Pérez sacrificed himself to allow Max Verstappen to take the aspiration on his single-seater in the two straights that make up the Yas Marina circuit. Result, at the end of the round, it is the Mercedes which concedes 3 tenths of a second behind.
But the big one surprise of these qualifications resides in tire and strategic choices at the beginning. The Red Bull will fly from pole position and 3rd place in soft gums. While the Mercedes will start from 2nd and 6th place in medium erasers.
However, the soft tires offer a real advantage when it comes time to fly off the starting grid. Lewis Hamilton will therefore be in difficulty for the first part of this race. But if he manages to take off perfectly and maintain his 2nd position at worst, he will find himself with the advantage of his harder tires. Indeed, the Briton will be able to afford to attack more with tires and lengthen his first stint in the race.
We also note the very nice performance by Lando Norris which rediscovers colors under the night of the United Arab Emirates, with a 3e position. Conversely, we notice the misshapen Pierre Gasly which is done exit in Q2 for the 4th time this season. This is the first time his teammate has beaten him in qualifying this season.
See you tomorrow at 2 p.m. for thehe Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021, which will be broadcast live on Auto-Moto. In the meantime, here is the starting grid:
- Max Verstappen – Red Bull
- Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes
- Lando Norris – McLaren
- Sergio Pérez – Red Bull
- Carlos Sainz – Ferrari
- Valtteri Bottas – Mercedes
- Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
- Yuki Tsunoda – Alpha Tauri
- Esteban Ocon – Alpine
- Daniel Ricciardo – McLaren
- Fernando Alonso – Alpine
- Pierre Gasly – Alpha Tauri
- Lance Stroll – Astonn Martin
- Antonio Giovinazzi – Alfa Romeo
- Sebastian Vettel – Aston Martin
- Nicholas Latifi – Williams
- George Russell – Williams
- Kimi Raikkonen – Alfa Romeo
- Mick Schumacher – Haas
- Nikita Mazepin – Haas
Photo : Icon Sport
To read on Auto-Moto:
F1 – Abu Dhabi: the new Yas Marina circuit in on-board camera
Formula 1: What bonus for Verstappen or Hamilton in the event of a title?
F1 – GP Abu Dhabi: Hamilton or Verstappen world champion if …
F1 records 2021: the Hamilton eight?
Julien Fébreau or the art of commenting on an F1 Grand Prix – PODCAST
