F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix LIVE: Practice results and reaction after Carlos Sainz crash

F1 returns to Abu Dhabi this weekend for the usual season-finale at the Yas Marina Circuit.

Max Verstappen won the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix last week for his 18th victory of a record-breaking season. The Dutchman has now won six races in a row since Carlos Sainz’s victory in Singapore in September.

Charles Leclerc finished second in Vegas after a terrific last-lap overtake on Sergio Perez, who despite dropping down to third place still sealed second in the world championship for Red Bull’s first-ever one-two finish in a Formula 1 season.

Lewis Hamilton is still chasing his first win in nearly two years as Mercedes look to stave off Ferrari in the battle for second place in the constructors’ championship. Toto Wolff’s team are four points clear ahead of the final grand prix of the season.

Follow live updates from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with The Independent

F1 ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX - PRACTICE

• Charles Leclerc fastest in FP2; Norris 2nd; Verstappen 3rd

• CRASH! Nico Hulkenberg hits the barrier

• CRASH! Carlos Sainz smashes his Ferrari into the wall

• Second practice at the Yas Marina Circuit started at 1pm (GMT)

• George Russell fastest in first practice; Drugovich 2nd; Ricciardo 3rd

• Christian Horner reveals talks with Lewis Hamilton’s father over Red Bull seat

• Lewis Hamilton takes aim at Christian Horner: ‘He’s stirring things!’

• FEATURE: Inside the white lines of the Las Vegas Grand Prix grid

FP2 RESULTS IN FULL

14:12 , Kieran Jackson

Charles Leclerc fastest in second practice

14:05 , Kieran Jackson

The Ferrari man - pole-sitter last week in Las Vegas - goes quickest in FP2 with a lap time of 1:24:809.

Lando Norris was 0.043 secs behind in second, with Max Verstappen third in the end - 0.173 secs behind Charles Leclerc.

4-10: Bottas, Perez, Russell, Zhou, Hamilton, Gasly, Piastri

Lively session!

Max Verstappen on team radio:

13:54 , Kieran Jackson

“The car is jumping like a kangaroo in the final sector!

The usual practice session tweaking needed on Max Verstappen’s Red Bull.

Charles Leclerc fastest with 10 to go

13:53 , Kieran Jackson

Big rush now to complete some qualifying simulation laps under the lights in Abu Dhabi!

With 10 minutes to go, Charles Leclerc is fastest with a 1:24:809 - two-tenths quicker than Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas.

Max Verstappen only tenth-fastest, but on medium tyres.

Max Verstappen in a hurry to get out of the pits!

13:47 , Kieran Jackson

In a rush to leave the pit lane, Max Verstappen tries to squeeze past a few cars in the very narrow pit lane in Abu Dhabi, which goes down through a tunnel.

It was very, very tight.

Hhhhmmm, not sure that’s really on.

Less than 15 minutes to go...

UPDATE: Session will resume at 1:45pm (GMT)

13:44 , Kieran Jackson

Cue a massive queue at the end of the Yas Marina pit lane...

Nico Hulkenberg now crashes!

13:39 , Kieran Jackson

And it’s another red flag!

Nico Hulkenberg has spun into the barrier out the exit of turn 1!

The rear wing of his car tapped the barrier but has now stopped on the track, meaning the session has to be stopped again!

Session suspended once more!

UPDATE: Session will resume at 1:35pm (GMT)

13:34 , Kieran Jackson

Just a few more minutes to wait now before second practice gets back underway!

The drivers will just have 25 minutes left. Obviously, Carlos Sainz will not be taking part...

Busy night in store for the Ferrari mechanics!

13:23 , Kieran Jackson

40 minutes left of the session - the clock keeps ticking in practice - and still they’re looking to lift and recover Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari.

For the second week running, the mechanics will be busy with a repair job!

Carlos Sainz has hit the wall!

13:10 , Kieran Jackson

The Ferrari has smashed into the tecpro!

I think that’s at turn 3 - it’s a red flag!

Tell you what, it’s a heavy shunt! Sainz lost control and spun violently into the barrier!

“The dirty air gave me a massive snap, the bump as well I think.”

Session stopped.

FP2 underway in Abu Dhabi!

13:04 , Kieran Jackson

Usual 20 drivers back in their cars now as we get going with the second practice session at the Yas Marina Circuit!

What is the race schedule?

12:58 , Kieran Jackson

(All times GMT)

Friday 24 November

• Free practice 1: 9:30am

• Free practice 2: 1pm

Saturday 25 November

• Free practice 3: 10:30am

• Qualifying: 2pm

Sunday 26 November

• Race: 6am

Christian Horner reveals talks with Lewis Hamilton’s father over Red Bull seat

12:50 , Kieran Jackson

Christian Horner revealed that Lewis Hamilton’s father Anthony made an enquiry about Sergio Perez’s seat at Red Bull earlier this season.

Following on from an interview Horner gave saying that a representative of Hamilton had been in touch about joining the world champions, Hamilton had his say on Thursday – insisting that nobody from his team has been in touch and, in fact, Horner messaged him on an old phone.

The Mercedes driver added that Horner was simply “stirring things.”

Yet the Red Bull team principal looked to put the speculation to bed by divulging that it was Hamilton’s father and former manager Anthony who had touched base.

Full quotes below:

Christian Horner reveals talks with Lewis Hamilton’s father over Red Bull seat

Walking with the stars: Inside the white lines of the Las Vegas Grand Prix grid

12:37 , Kieran Jackson

Feature by Kieran Jackson

It’s Saturday night in Sin City, 9pm local time. One hour until lights out. Walking out of the media centre, across the car park of the Tuscany Suites and Casino, and up through the various security checkpoints, you arrive at the highly coveted, yet strangely downplayed open space that is the Formula One paddock. Halfway down, between the garages of Aston Martin and Alfa Romeo, lies the grid access lane: a portal to the forthcoming chaos.

There is a chill in the air. A cool 15C temperature which, predicted all week, is about to play havoc with tyres in the 50 laps ahead. A pause for breath and then the steel-faced American bodyguard gives the go-ahead. On you stroll, pretending you belong here. Welcome to the curiously flummoxing experience that is the F1 pre-race grid.

Full piece below:

Walking with the stars: Inside the white lines of the Las Vegas Grand Prix grid

Mick Schumacher returns to racing with Alpine in 2024

12:22 , Kieran Jackson

Mick Schumacher has been confirmed as a driver for Alpine in the World Endurance Championship next year.

The 24-year-old has been present in the Formula 1 paddock this season as a reserve driver for Mercedes, driving in the simulator and providing cover for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

The German driver, son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, was dropped from his F1 race seat at Haas at the end of the 2022 season after two years but after experiencing a year without racing in 2023, Schumacher will race for Alpine in their Hypercar squad next season.

More detail below:

Mick Schumacher returns to racing with Alpine in 2024

Constructors’ Championship ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix:

12:11 , Kieran Jackson

1) Red Bull - 822 points (champions)

2) Mercedes - 392 points

3) Ferrari - 388 points

4) McLaren - 284 points

5) Aston Martin - 273 points

6) Alpine - 120 points

7) Williams - 28 points

8) AlphaTauri - 21 points

9) Alfa Romeo - 16 points

10) Haas - 12 points

Lewis Hamilton takes aim at Christian Horner: ‘He’s stirring things!’

11:59 , Kieran Jackson

Lewis Hamilton insists Christian Horner is “stirring things” after the Red Bull team principal claimed the Mercedes driver’s team approached him about a move earlier this year.

A representative of Hamilton put out feelers about leaving Mercedes earlier this year, according to a report in the Daily Mail, with Red Bull and Ferrari both approached.

However, Hamilton, who has won six of his seven world titles at Mercedes, signed a new two-year contract with the Silver Arrows in September and, speaking in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, denied Horner’s claim.

“I know it’s [the story] come from Christian, I don’t really understand what he’s been talking about,” Hamilton told Sky Sports.

Full quotes below:

‘He’s stirring things!’ Lewis Hamilton takes aim at Christian Horner

Driver Standings ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix:

11:29 , Kieran Jackson

1) Max Verstappen - 549 points (champion)

2) Sergio Perez - 273 points

3) Lewis Hamilton - 232 points

4) Carlos Sainz - 200 points

5) Fernando Alonso - 200 points

6) Lando Norris - 195 points

7) Charles Leclerc - 188 points

8) George Russell - 160 points

9) Oscar Piastri - 89 points

10) Lance Stroll - 73 points

11) Pierre Gasly - 62 points

12) Esteban Ocon - 58 points

13) Alex Albon - 27 points

14) Yuki Tsunoda - 13 points

15) Valtteri Bottas - 10 points

16) Nico Hulkenberg - 9 points

17) Daniel Ricciardo - 6 points

18) Zhou Guanyu - 6 points

19) Kevin Magnussen - 3 points

20) Liam Lawson - 2 points

21) Logan Sargeant - 1 point

21) Nyck de Vries - 0 points

Walking with the stars: Inside the white lines of the Las Vegas Grand Prix grid

11:15 , Kieran Jackson

Feature by Kieran Jackson

It’s Saturday night in Sin City, 9pm local time. One hour until lights out. Walking out of the media centre, across the car park of the Tuscany Suites and Casino, and up through the various security checkpoints, you arrive at the highly coveted, yet strangely downplayed open space that is the Formula One paddock. Halfway down, between the garages of Aston Martin and Alfa Romeo, lies the grid access lane: a portal to the forthcoming chaos.

There is a chill in the air. A cool 15C temperature which, predicted all week, is about to play havoc with tyres in the 50 laps ahead. A pause for breath and then the steel-faced American bodyguard gives the go-ahead. On you stroll, pretending you belong here. Welcome to the curiously flummoxing experience that is the F1 pre-race grid.

Full piece below:

Walking with the stars: Inside the white lines of the Las Vegas Grand Prix grid

FP1 RESULTS IN FULL:

10:58 , Kieran Jackson

An unusually irate Oscar Piastri

10:42 , Kieran Jackson

George Russell fastest in FP1

10:33 , Kieran Jackson

The Mercedes driver is top of the leaderboard at the chequered flag in FP1, with a 1:26:072 on soft tyres.

Aston Martin’s Felipe Drugovich with an impressive P2 as a rookie driver, 0.288 secs off, while Daniel Ricciardo is third.

4-10: Bottas, Stroll, Piastri, Sainz, Shwartzman, Gasly, Tsunoda

As for the British rookies.... Jake Dennis finished 16th in Max Verstappen’s car, with Zak O’Sullivan P18 and Oliver Bearman P20.

George Russell still fastest

10:22 , Kieran Jackson

The Mercedes driver continues to lead the way at the top of the timesheet with his 1:26:072 lap three-tenths fastest than second place currently occupied by Aston Martin reserve Felipe Drugovich.

3-10: Bottas, Ricciardo, Piastri, Shwartzman, Gasly, Tsunoda, Sargeant, Vesti

Just under 10 minutes to go...

Scary moment for Aussie driver Jack Dooohan

10:11 , Kieran Jackson

Logan Sargeant up to P2 on the timesheet

10:06 , Kieran Jackson

The Williams driver - whose 2024 spot is yet to be confirmed - is now second on the leaderboard, but is still 0.925 secs off George Russell in first.

Frederik Vesti, in Lewis Hamilton’s car, now the best of the rookies in fourth place.

Just under 30 minutes to go...

McLaren’s Pato O’Ward quickest out of the rookies

09:53 , Kieran Jackson

The Mexican driver - who has been announced as a McLaren reserve next year - is the quickest of all the rookie drivers after the first 20 minutes. He’s sixth-fastest, 1.5 seconds off George Russell in first.

Yuki Tsunoda and Carlos Sainz complete the top-three.

Plenty of lock-ups and oversteers so far from the rookies, as they become accustomed to the rigours of a Formula 1 car. To be fair, it makes for intriguing viewing.

Jake Dennis coming into the pits

09:36 , Kieran Jackson

“I need to box, my helmet is nowhere near tight enough!”

Likely that the strain on the head/neck in F1 is quite different to Formula E!

Dennis is in Verstappen’s car this morning...

Who are the rookie drivers taking part?

09:35 , Kieran Jackson

Jake Dennis - Red Bull

Isack Hadjar - Red Bull

Frederik Vesti - Mercedes

Robert Shwartzman - Ferrari

Pato O’Ward - McLaren

Felipe Drugovich - Aston Martin

Jake Doohan - Alpine

Theo Pourchaire - Alfa Romeo

Oliver Bearman - Haas

Zak O’Sullivan - Williams

F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix practice!

09:30 , Kieran Jackson

We’re underway with first practice at Yas Marina!

A reminder: we’ve got 10 rookie drivers taking part in this one-hour session, including Formula E champion Jake Dennis and British teenagers Oliver Bearman and Zak O’Sullivan.

Lewis Hamilton takes aim at Christian Horner: ‘He’s stirring things!’

09:26 , Kieran Jackson

Lewis Hamilton insists Christian Horner is “stirring things” after the Red Bull team principal claimed the Mercedes driver’s team approached him about a move earlier this year.

A representative of Hamilton put out feelers about leaving Mercedes earlier this year, according to a report in the Daily Mail, with Red Bull and Ferrari both approached.

However, Hamilton, who has won six of his seven world titles at Mercedes, signed a new two-year contract with the Silver Arrows in September and, speaking in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, denied Horner’s claim.

“I know it’s [the story] come from Christian, I don’t really understand what he’s been talking about,” Hamilton told Sky Sports.

Full quotes below:

‘He’s stirring things!’ Lewis Hamilton takes aim at Christian Horner

What is the race schedule?

09:21 , Kieran Jackson

(All times GMT)

Friday 24 November

• Free practice 1: 9:30am

• Free practice 2: 1pm

Saturday 25 November

• Free practice 3: 10:30am

• Qualifying: 2pm

Sunday 26 November

• Race: 6am

Why are Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen missing FP1 in Abu Dhabi?

09:19 , Kieran Jackson

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are among 10 drivers who will be absent from first practice at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Friday.

Last year, Formula 1 implemented a mandatory programme in which each car has to be driven by a rookie – defined as a driver who has started two or fewer F1 races – in at least one practice session per season.

A lot of teams and drivers have left it to the 22^nd and final race of the season to sit out, with Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris and Sergio Perez also missing out on FP1 at the Yas Marina Circuit.

See all the changes below:

Why are Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen missing first practice in Abu Dhabi?

F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix practice!

09:16 , Kieran Jackson

Good morning and welcome to live coverage of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix!

It’s the 22nd and final race of the season this weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit with Max Verstappen looking to record his 19th victory of the season after what has been an incredible year.

Stay right here for all the updates - first practice is at 9:30am (GMT)!