Valtteri Bottas starts the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from pole position after Mercedes dominated qualifying, claiming their fourth successive lock out at the Yas Marina circuit. As the sun set over the Yas Marina and the lights surrounding the circuit took effect, it was Mercedes' qualifying to lose. First Bottas and then Lewis Hamilton broke the lap record – down into the 1:36s – in Q2 as they laid down a marker ahead of the all-important pole position shoot-out. Moving into Q3 the Ferrari drivers joined the Mercedes pairing in the 1:36s, however, it was still a Mercedes 1-2 in the early running. A 1:36.231 for Bottas put him onto provisional pole by 0.172s ahead of...
Full Story »