Red Bull's Dutch driver Max Verstappen arrives at the Yas Marina Circuit before the first free practice session of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix. AFP
Red Bull's Dutch driver Max Verstappen arrives at the Yas Marina Circuit before the first free practice session of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix. AFP
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, arrives ahead of Friday's practice. Reuters
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, arrives ahead of Friday's practice. Reuters
Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton. Reuters
Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton. Reuters
Red Bull's Mexican driver Sergio Perez arrives at the Yas Marina Circuit. AFP
Red Bull's Mexican driver Sergio Perez arrives at the Yas Marina Circuit. AFP
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto and driver Charles Leclerc arrive ahead of practice. Reuters
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto and driver Charles Leclerc arrive ahead of practice. Reuters
McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo. Reuters
McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo. Reuters
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. Reuters
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. Reuters
Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing walks in the Paddock before practice. Getty Images
Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing walks in the Paddock before practice. Getty Images
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands arrives at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi. AP Photo
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands arrives at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi. AP Photo
Seven-time world champion Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton arrives ahead of practice. Reuters
Seven-time world champion Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton arrives ahead of practice. Reuters
Red Bull's Max Verstappen arrives ahead of practice. Reuters
Red Bull's Max Verstappen arrives ahead of practice. Reuters
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain arrives at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi. AP Photo
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain arrives at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi. AP Photo
Alfa Romeo's Antonio Giovinazzi arrives at Yas Marina Circuit. Reuters
Alfa Romeo's Antonio Giovinazzi arrives at Yas Marina Circuit. Reuters
Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr. Reuters
Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr. Reuters
Sergio Perez of Mexico and Red Bull Racing walks in the Paddock before practice. Getty Images
Sergio Perez of Mexico and Red Bull Racing walks in the Paddock before practice. Getty Images
Nicholas Latifi of Canada and Williams walks in the Paddock before practice. Getty Images
Nicholas Latifi of Canada and Williams walks in the Paddock before practice. Getty Images
Pierre Gasly of Scuderia AlphaTauri and France with his girlfriend Katerina Imerelli of Spain during practice ahead of the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021. Getty Images
Pierre Gasly of Scuderia AlphaTauri and France with his girlfriend Katerina Imerelli of Spain during practice ahead of the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021. Getty Images
Yuki Tsunoda of Scuderia AlphaTauri and Japan arrives at Yas Marina Circuit during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi. Getty Images
Yuki Tsunoda of Scuderia AlphaTauri and Japan arrives at Yas Marina Circuit during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi. Getty Images
Valtteri Bottas of Finland and Mercedes GP walks in the Paddock with his girlfriend cyclist Tiffany Cromwell. Getty Images
Valtteri Bottas of Finland and Mercedes GP walks in the Paddock with his girlfriend cyclist Tiffany Cromwell. Getty Images
Oscar Piastri of Australia and Prema Racing (2) drives on his way to the pitlane before practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship at Yas Marina Circuit on December 10, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Getty Images
Oscar Piastri of Australia and Prema Racing (2) drives on his way to the pitlane before practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship at Yas Marina Circuit on December 10, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Getty Images
Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Hitech Grand Prix drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Hitech Grand Prix drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Hitech Grand Prix drives during practice at Yas Marina Circuit. Getty Images
Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Hitech Grand Prix drives during practice at Yas Marina Circuit. Getty Images
Oscar Piastri of Australia and Prema Racing drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
Oscar Piastri of Australia and Prema Racing drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
Jack Doohan of Australia and MP Motorsport (11) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
Jack Doohan of Australia and MP Motorsport (11) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
Marino Sato of Japan and Trident (25) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship at Yas Marina Circuit. Getty Images
Marino Sato of Japan and Trident (25) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship at Yas Marina Circuit. Getty Images
Roy Nissany of Israel and DAMS (16) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship at Yas Marina Circuit. Getty Images
Roy Nissany of Israel and DAMS (16) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship at Yas Marina Circuit. Getty Images
Robert Shwartzman of Russia and Prema Racing (1) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
Robert Shwartzman of Russia and Prema Racing (1) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
Christian Lundgaard of Denmark and ART Grand Prix (9) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
Christian Lundgaard of Denmark and ART Grand Prix (9) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
Christian Lundgaard of Denmark and ART Grand Prix (9) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
Christian Lundgaard of Denmark and ART Grand Prix (9) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
Bent Viscaal of Netherlands and Trident (24) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
Bent Viscaal of Netherlands and Trident (24) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
Roy Nissany of Israel and DAMS (16) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship at Yas Marina Circuit. Getty Images
Roy Nissany of Israel and DAMS (16) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship at Yas Marina Circuit. Getty Images
Guanyu Zhou of China and UNI-Virtuosi Racing (3) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
Guanyu Zhou of China and UNI-Virtuosi Racing (3) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images

Sport

F1

Abu Dhabi F1 2021: Hamilton and Verstappen arrive for Friday practice - in pictures

Mercedes and Red Bull rival are neck and neck in title race ahead of Sunday's season finale

Steve Luckings
Steve Luckings

December 10, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Formula One title rivals Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have arrived at Yas Marina Circuit ahead of Friday's first practice session for the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Nothing separates the pair in the standings ahead of Sunday's season finale, with the Mercedes driver and Red Bull race tied on 369.5 points.

It means whoever finishes highest will be crowned the 2021 F1 world champion.

Should both Hamilton and Verstappen crash out, Verstappen will win the title by dint of having won more races this season (9-8).

Friday's first practice session is from 1-2.30pm with the evening session at 5pm UAE time.

Be sure to check out our coverage of the build up, including:

World Mental Health Day
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Kareem Shaheen on Canada
Updated: December 10, 2021, 9:04 AM`
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025Lewis HamiltonMax VerstappenMercedes