• Red Bull's Dutch driver Max Verstappen arrives at the Yas Marina Circuit before the first free practice session of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix. AFP
    Red Bull's Dutch driver Max Verstappen arrives at the Yas Marina Circuit before the first free practice session of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix. AFP
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, arrives ahead of Friday's practice. Reuters
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, arrives ahead of Friday's practice. Reuters
  • Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton. Reuters
    Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton. Reuters
  • Red Bull's Mexican driver Sergio Perez arrives at the Yas Marina Circuit. AFP
    Red Bull's Mexican driver Sergio Perez arrives at the Yas Marina Circuit. AFP
  • Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto and driver Charles Leclerc arrive ahead of practice. Reuters
    Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto and driver Charles Leclerc arrive ahead of practice. Reuters
  • McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo. Reuters
    McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo. Reuters
  • Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. Reuters
    Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. Reuters
  • Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing walks in the Paddock before practice. Getty Images
    Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing walks in the Paddock before practice. Getty Images
  • Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands arrives at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi. AP Photo
    Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands arrives at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi. AP Photo
  • Seven-time world champion Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton arrives ahead of practice. Reuters
    Seven-time world champion Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton arrives ahead of practice. Reuters
  • Red Bull's Max Verstappen arrives ahead of practice. Reuters
    Red Bull's Max Verstappen arrives ahead of practice. Reuters
  • Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain arrives at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi. AP Photo
    Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain arrives at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi. AP Photo
  • Alfa Romeo's Antonio Giovinazzi arrives at Yas Marina Circuit. Reuters
    Alfa Romeo's Antonio Giovinazzi arrives at Yas Marina Circuit. Reuters
  • Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr. Reuters
    Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr. Reuters
  • Sergio Perez of Mexico and Red Bull Racing walks in the Paddock before practice. Getty Images
    Sergio Perez of Mexico and Red Bull Racing walks in the Paddock before practice. Getty Images
  • Nicholas Latifi of Canada and Williams walks in the Paddock before practice. Getty Images
    Nicholas Latifi of Canada and Williams walks in the Paddock before practice. Getty Images
  • Pierre Gasly of Scuderia AlphaTauri and France with his girlfriend Katerina Imerelli of Spain during practice ahead of the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021. Getty Images
    Pierre Gasly of Scuderia AlphaTauri and France with his girlfriend Katerina Imerelli of Spain during practice ahead of the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021. Getty Images
  • Yuki Tsunoda of Scuderia AlphaTauri and Japan arrives at Yas Marina Circuit during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi. Getty Images
    Yuki Tsunoda of Scuderia AlphaTauri and Japan arrives at Yas Marina Circuit during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi. Getty Images
  • Valtteri Bottas of Finland and Mercedes GP walks in the Paddock with his girlfriend cyclist Tiffany Cromwell. Getty Images
    Valtteri Bottas of Finland and Mercedes GP walks in the Paddock with his girlfriend cyclist Tiffany Cromwell. Getty Images
  • Oscar Piastri of Australia and Prema Racing (2) drives on his way to the pitlane before practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship at Yas Marina Circuit on December 10, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Getty Images
    Oscar Piastri of Australia and Prema Racing (2) drives on his way to the pitlane before practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship at Yas Marina Circuit on December 10, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Getty Images
  • Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Hitech Grand Prix drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
    Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Hitech Grand Prix drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
  • Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Hitech Grand Prix drives during practice at Yas Marina Circuit. Getty Images
    Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Hitech Grand Prix drives during practice at Yas Marina Circuit. Getty Images
  • Oscar Piastri of Australia and Prema Racing drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
    Oscar Piastri of Australia and Prema Racing drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
  • Jack Doohan of Australia and MP Motorsport (11) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
    Jack Doohan of Australia and MP Motorsport (11) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
  • Marino Sato of Japan and Trident (25) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship at Yas Marina Circuit. Getty Images
    Marino Sato of Japan and Trident (25) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship at Yas Marina Circuit. Getty Images
  • Roy Nissany of Israel and DAMS (16) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship at Yas Marina Circuit. Getty Images
    Roy Nissany of Israel and DAMS (16) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship at Yas Marina Circuit. Getty Images
  • Robert Shwartzman of Russia and Prema Racing (1) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
    Robert Shwartzman of Russia and Prema Racing (1) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
  • Christian Lundgaard of Denmark and ART Grand Prix (9) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
    Christian Lundgaard of Denmark and ART Grand Prix (9) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
  • Christian Lundgaard of Denmark and ART Grand Prix (9) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
    Christian Lundgaard of Denmark and ART Grand Prix (9) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
  • Bent Viscaal of Netherlands and Trident (24) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
    Bent Viscaal of Netherlands and Trident (24) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
  • Roy Nissany of Israel and DAMS (16) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship at Yas Marina Circuit. Getty Images
    Roy Nissany of Israel and DAMS (16) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship at Yas Marina Circuit. Getty Images
  • Guanyu Zhou of China and UNI-Virtuosi Racing (3) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images
    Guanyu Zhou of China and UNI-Virtuosi Racing (3) drives during practice ahead of Round 8: Yas Island of the Formula 2 Championship. Getty Images

Sport

F1

Abu Dhabi F1 2021: Hamilton and Verstappen arrive for Friday practice - in pictures

Mercedes and Red Bull rival are neck and neck in title race ahead of Sunday's season finale

Steve Luckings
Steve Luckings

December 10, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Formula One title rivals Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have arrived at Yas Marina Circuit ahead of Friday's first practice session for the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Nothing separates the pair in the standings ahead of Sunday's season finale, with the Mercedes driver and Red Bull race tied on 369.5 points.

It means whoever finishes highest will be crowned the 2021 F1 world champion.

Should both Hamilton and Verstappen crash out, Verstappen will win the title by dint of having won more races this season (9-8).

Friday's first practice session is from 1-2.30pm with the evening session at 5pm UAE time.

Be sure to check out our coverage of the build up, including:

Updated: December 10, 2021, 9:04 AM
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025Lewis HamiltonMax VerstappenMercedes