Lewis Hamilton completely dominated the last minutes of this first qualifying session in Abu Dhabi, taking back pole position every lap he completed. Ultimately, he was the only driver with a time under 1:41 (1:40.948) on the 5.554 km track.
Hamilton was followed by the Red Bull drivers, Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, who completed the top-three. Both were surprising at the end of the session, going from seventh and sixth respectively with two minutes to go to second and third at the chequered flag.
The two Brawn drivers followed with a fifth position for Rubens Barrichello and a sixth for new World Champion Jenson Button. The latest hopes to finish this dream season with a podium and if possible a victory, something he hasn’t done since early in 2009.
Jarno Trulli, Robert Kubica, Nick heidfeld, Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Buemi completed the top-ten in qualifying. As for Ferrari, the 11th time of Raikkonen and the 20th of Giancarlo Fisichella was once again not very convincing.
Hamilton’s teammate Heikki Kovalainen will start 13th tomorrow in Abu Dhabi.
Qualifying results - Abu Dhabi:
1. Row
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/24-Mercedes) - 1'40"948 - Q3
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB5-Renault) - 1'41"615 - q3
2. Row
Mark Webber (Red Bull RB5-Renault) - 1'41"726 - Q3
Rubens Barrichello (Brawn BGP001-Mercedes) - 1'41"786 - Q3
3. Row
Jenson Button (Brawn BGP001-Mercedes) - 1'41"892 - Q3
Jarno Trulli (Toyota TF109) - 1'41"897 - Q3
4. Row
Robert Kubica (BMW F1.09) - 1'41"992 - Q3
Nick Heidfeld (BMW F1.09) - 1'42"343 - Q3
5. Row
Nico Rosberg (Williams FW31-Toyota) - 1'42"583 - Q3
Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'42"713 - Q3
6. Row
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F60) - 1'40"726 – Q2
Kamui Kobayashi (Toyota TF109) - 1'40"777 – Q2
7. Row
Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren MP4/24-Mercedes) - 1'40"983 – Q32
Kazuki Nakajima (Williams FW31-Toyota) - 1'41"148 – Q2
8. Row
Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'41"689 – Q2
Fernando Alonso (Renault R29) - 1'41"667 – Q1
9. Row
Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India VJM02-Mercedes) - 1'41"701 – Q1
Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM02-Mercedes) - 1'41"863 – Q1
10. Row
Romain Grosjean (Renault R29) - 1'41"950 – Q1
Giancarlo Fisichella (Ferrari F60) - 1'42"184 – Q1
** Unofficial results **
Hamilton was followed by the Red Bull drivers, Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, who completed the top-three. Both were surprising at the end of the session, going from seventh and sixth respectively with two minutes to go to second and third at the chequered flag.
The two Brawn drivers followed with a fifth position for Rubens Barrichello and a sixth for new World Champion Jenson Button. The latest hopes to finish this dream season with a podium and if possible a victory, something he hasn’t done since early in 2009.
Jarno Trulli, Robert Kubica, Nick heidfeld, Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Buemi completed the top-ten in qualifying. As for Ferrari, the 11th time of Raikkonen and the 20th of Giancarlo Fisichella was once again not very convincing.
Hamilton’s teammate Heikki Kovalainen will start 13th tomorrow in Abu Dhabi.
Qualifying results - Abu Dhabi:
1. Row
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/24-Mercedes) - 1'40"948 - Q3
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB5-Renault) - 1'41"615 - q3
2. Row
Mark Webber (Red Bull RB5-Renault) - 1'41"726 - Q3
Rubens Barrichello (Brawn BGP001-Mercedes) - 1'41"786 - Q3
3. Row
Jenson Button (Brawn BGP001-Mercedes) - 1'41"892 - Q3
Jarno Trulli (Toyota TF109) - 1'41"897 - Q3
4. Row
Robert Kubica (BMW F1.09) - 1'41"992 - Q3
Nick Heidfeld (BMW F1.09) - 1'42"343 - Q3
5. Row
Nico Rosberg (Williams FW31-Toyota) - 1'42"583 - Q3
Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'42"713 - Q3
6. Row
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F60) - 1'40"726 – Q2
Kamui Kobayashi (Toyota TF109) - 1'40"777 – Q2
7. Row
Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren MP4/24-Mercedes) - 1'40"983 – Q32
Kazuki Nakajima (Williams FW31-Toyota) - 1'41"148 – Q2
8. Row
Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'41"689 – Q2
Fernando Alonso (Renault R29) - 1'41"667 – Q1
9. Row
Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India VJM02-Mercedes) - 1'41"701 – Q1
Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM02-Mercedes) - 1'41"863 – Q1
10. Row
Romain Grosjean (Renault R29) - 1'41"950 – Q1
Giancarlo Fisichella (Ferrari F60) - 1'42"184 – Q1
** Unofficial results **