This is it, the season is about to end. The last Qualifying session of the season is over. Lets read on to know how the Twitterati reacted:
Bottas has had an underwhelming season this year. He had shown flashes of speed occasionally and today was that day again.
The Finn duly claimed pole from Hamilton. With a 1:36.231, Bottas stormed to the 4th pole of this year as well as his total tally. He’ll lead the race at light’s out tomorrow and who knows may get his 3rd win.
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BREAKING: @ValtteriBottas will start Sunday’s #AbuDhabiGP from pole!
That’s the Finn’s 4th P1 in #Quali this year 👏 Hamilton finishes second, Vettel third#F1 🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/Lf3oA0n7yh
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 25, 2017
Here are some good stats to look at with your jaws dropped down!
Another shock was seeing Ferrari so much off the pace. Vettel in P3 was half a second down on Bottas. Abu Dhabi was predicted to suit Ferrari. So has Ferrari switched their focus to 2018 or has Mercedes’s focus on 2018 already beginning to show?
📻 🗣 | Sebastian Vettel Post Qualifying Team Radio: That was all I had guys.#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 #F1Finale #Seb5 pic.twitter.com/gnNP5UL83g
— Sebastian Vettel #5 (@sebvettelnews) November 25, 2017
Humouring the mood a little bit here’s something funny between couple Toto Wolff and Susie Wolff.
Toto: "Please not Susie, she will ask a difficult question. Every day I get those!"
Absolute couple goals 😆💖#AbuDhabiGP #C4F1 pic.twitter.com/LaFzM23kWj
— Channel 4 F1® (@C4F1) November 25, 2017
Daniel Ricciardo ended the season with a bang atleast on Saturday. He outpaced Verstappen and Kimi to start P4 tomorrow.
Nice @danielricciardo qualifying 4th next to Vettel #AbuDhabiGP
— Kate🦋M© (@Kate3015) November 25, 2017
I agree too:
My 4 year old daughter watching f1 quali, says @danielricciardo is naughty, he is fast #AbuDhabiGP #HoneyBadger
— Andy.I.Am Dartnell (@the__dart) November 25, 2017
A bit disappointing for Verstappen though:
Ready for tomorrow's race with @redbullracing @danielricciardo in P4 and @Max33Verstappen in P6. @f1 @ymcofficial #AbuDhabiGP @ATT @ATTBusiness #speed #winning @KADGLOBAL 🇦🇪🏁 https://t.co/JNKpsPndLN
— Kelley A. Duarte (@KADGLOBAL) November 25, 2017
Hulkenberg also put in a stellar lap to place his Renault in P7 outscoring the Force Indias. But there’s still a tall order for Renault tomorrow:
Hulk qualifies P7 so it's advantage Renault in race for P6 in WCC. No room for error thought as Hulk needs to finish there for Renault to get ahead (Toro Rosso's ahead on count-back – ironically enough as Sainz finished fourth for it in Singapore). #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
— Graham Keilloh (@TalkingaboutF1) November 25, 2017
The Force India duo finished P8 and P9 with Perez and Ocon in that order. Perez has a sword hanging over his head though because of impeding Hulkenberg.
P8 and P9 on the grid for the #F1Finale! Well done @SChecoPerez and @OconEsteban – let’s go hunting tomorrow! #AbuDhabiGP #PinkPanthers pic.twitter.com/5Rl5QSLPSP
— SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team (@RacingPointF1) November 25, 2017
Massa rounded out the top 10.
Alonso wriggled his McLaren-Honda for the last time on a Saturday and will start P11.
Question: Are you happy that your former team mate Filipe Massa pushed you out of Q3 on his last F1 race?
Alonso: Yes I am. No, seriously, I am!
Such a class. Stay awesome Alonso #f1 #AbuDhabiGP
— Flat Earther , Anti Vaxxer & Moon Landing Denier (@Nirjhor) November 25, 2017
Sainz will start P12 and the other McLaren will start P13.
K-Mag also put in a stellar to take his Haas upto P14 when his most experienced teammate could only manage P16.
Take a look at the comparison between last year and this year quali pace:
Times in #AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪2017 vs 2016 Sai 🇪🇸1:38.725 vs 1:42.393 (Toro Rosso), Mag 🇩🇰1:39.298 vs 1:42.142 (Renault), Gro 🇫🇷1:39.516 vs 1:41.467, Weh 🇩🇪1:39.930 vs 1:41.886 (Manor), Eri 🇨🇭1:39.930 vs 1:42.637
— Jan Schneeberger (@schnebka) November 25, 2017
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Toro Rosso had a very contrasting day in the garage but an overall disappointment. Gasly lines up P17 while Hartley at P20.
The Sauber duo line up at P18 & P19.
Here’s the complete grid for your perusal:
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INITIAL CLASSIFICATION (END OF QUALIFYING): @ValtteriBottas claims his fourth career pole #AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #Quali #F1 pic.twitter.com/GvPS566WFY
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 25, 2017