INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
For the 23rd round of the 2023 season, Formula One heads to UAE for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - the last race of the year which takes place
over 58 laps of the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island this weekend
The battle for P4 in drivers' championship is on between four drivers, while Ferrari and Mercedes are fighting it out for the runner up spot
in the constructors' championship.It was reigning champion Max Verstappen who secured yet another pole position this year - equaling
Hamilton's record 12 pole positions in one season.The Red Bull driver finished with a lap time of1:23.445s, just 0.139s ahead of Charles
Leclerc, who is also in contention for the fourth position in the championship
Meanwhile Leclerc's teammate Carlos Sainz, who is currently 12 points ahead of his teammate, tied on fourth with Fernando Alonso, went out
in Q1 itself, making it the first exit for the Spaniard in the first qualifying since 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix - where he ended up on the
Behind Leclerc was McLaren's rookie Oscar Piastri, who has shown immense potential and even outperform his teammate Lando Norris.Mercedes'
George Russell takes P4, sharing the second row with Piastri
Meanwhile Piastri's teammate Norris will be starting the Abu Dhabi GP from the fifth spot
AlphaTauri's Yuki Tsunoda has had exceptional performances on Saturdays this year, and here's another one, with the Japanese racing driver
set to line up on sixth ahead of veteran Alonso
Nico Hulkenberg, Sergio Perez, and Pierre Gasly round up the top 10 on the grid for the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.Stay tuned to TOI Auto for
the 2023 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race report tomorrow.
