Mercedes’ George Russell showed that the title rivals might not have the stage to themselves at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with the fastest time in final practice.
Russell headed championship leader Lando Norris’ McLaren and his main rival Max Verstappen of Red Bull in the last running before qualifying, a session that was interrupted by a crash for Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari.
Norris leads Verstappen by 12 points going into the final race of the season and the Briton will win the title if he finishes on the podium on Sunday, regardless of anyone else’s result.
If Verstappen wins the race, Norris must finish at least third in the grand prix.
The third title contender, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, is 16 points behind Norris and faces a difficult route to the title.
Russell was 0.004 seconds faster than Norris, who had a 0.12-second advantage over Verstappen.
Piastri was fifth quickest, 0.259secs off the pace, and behind also the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso.
Hamilton lost control at the long, looping left-hander of Turn Nine, spinning on entry and crashing into the barriers, breaking his front wing and front suspension.
Hamilton said over the radio that “something buckled at the front and it snapped the rear”.
