Valtteri Bottas outpaced his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton to claim pole position with a record-breaking lap in Saturday’s qualifying session for Sunday’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The 28-year-old Finn clocked a best lap in one minute, 36.231 seconds to outpace the newly-crowned four-time world champion. It was Bottas’ fourth career pole and the first time he had claimed back-to-back pole positions.
German four-time champion Sebastian Vettel took third place for Ferrari ahead of Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull and his Ferrari team-mate Finn Kimi Raikkonen, with Dutchman Max Verstappen sixth in the second Red Bull.
German Nico Hulkenberg took seventh for Renault ahead of Mexican Sergio Perez and his Force India team-mate Esteban Ocon, with retirement-bound Brazilian Felipe Massa 10th in his final outing for the Williams team.
“Thanks guys,” said Bottas, whose wife is at the circuit, at the end. “You know, family support is always nice! Things were getting better and better in practice and it was all under control. I felt good in the car. I’m really happy. I was so gutted in Brazil to be on pole and to miss out on the win so I have a clear target for tomorrow.”
Hamilton did his utmost to grab pole, but said: “I am delighted for Valtteri. He did a great job and deserved it. What a lap. He had an incredible session and congratulations to him. I think I was up a bit on Turn One, but then I lost it on turns five and six, but otherwise it’s been an incredible year of qualifying and one I’ve enjoyed.”