Lewis Hamilton storms to dominant Abu Dhabi pole

Lewis Hamilton has stormed to his 25th career pole for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, in utterly dominant fashion around the Yas Marina circuit. After a tremendously competitive start to the weekend, the Briton will start tomorrow’s race alongside the Red Bull of Mark Webber, with Sebastian Vettel and Pastor Maldonado set to start on the second row.

As the sun began to set across the glorious Yas Marina circuit, the drivers instantly took to the track to begin their qualifying efforts. The Sauber of Kamui Kobayashi was the first to take to the track during Q1, also setting the first timed lap with a 01:43.939. However, the Japanese driver was instantly thwarted by the Williams of Pastor Maldonado. Championship contender Fernando Alonso stormed to the top of the timing sheets with a 01:42.574, before Maldonado once again returned to the top in competitive style.

Whilst Fernando Alonso and Pastor Maldonado traded fastest times at the top, the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton struggled greatly through turn 12, locking up his tyres and running extensively wide over the tarmac run-off area. Alonso returned to the top of the timing sheets, before Lewis Hamilton finally set a competitive lap time and shot to the top with a 01:41.497. After a tough third and final practice session earlier in the day, Sebastian Vettel struggled in the opening minutes of Q1, lightly tapping the armco on the exit of turn 19.

However, the reigning Champion was able to set a relatively competitive lap time as the opening qualifying segment drew to a conclusion. Jean-Eric Vergne spun whilst negotiating turn 20, as the Frenchman strove to better his lap time. However, he was unable to do so and was once again eliminated along with the usual suspects of the Caterhams, Marussias and HRTs as Q1 ended.

Sauber were once again the first to take to the track as the second segment of qualifying began, this time with Sergio Perez leading out the pack. All the drivers were sporting the soft Pirelli tyres, eager to eek out as much pace as possible during the session. Perez set the initial pace with a 01:42.313, as di Resta decided to ominously pit. Pastor Maldonado once again set the pace, as the times quickly began to tumble with the likes of Kimi Raikkonen, Romain Grosjean, Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton all momentarily sharing the top spot.

Red Bull’s Mark Webber returned to the top of the timing sheets as the session progressed, with a 01:41.277, however Lewis Hamilton was quick to reassert his authority over proceedings with a scintillating 01:40.901. This time saw Hamilton remain at the top of the timing sheets as the session came to a conclusion, as the other McLaren of Jenson Button just scraped through to the top ten the shootout in 9th position.

Once again the usual suspects of Nico Hulkenberg, Sergio Perez, Paul di Resta, Michael Schumacher, Bruno Senna, Kamui Kobayashi and Daniel Ricciardo were eliminated as the session came to an end.

As the top ten shootout began, optimism was floating around the paddock of Red Bull’s sensational qualifying record of late being ended by McLaren. Kimi Raikkonen was the first driver to take to the track for Lotus, setting the first timed lap in the process with a 01:41.756. Fernando Alonso was quick to dispose of the Finn at the top, before Lewis Hamilton stormed to provisional pole position with a superlative 01:40.630. Sebastian Vettel slotted into 2nd position, as Pastor Maldonado impressed greatly by going 3rd fastest.

However, in the dying minutes of the shootout, Mark Webber thwarted his team-mate and shot into 2nd position behind Lewis Hamilton. As the checkered flag emerged, no-one could beat the surprising pace of Lewis Hamilton, who secured pole position by three tenths to Mark Webber. Sebastian Vettel qualified 3rd, after a tough session for the German. However, he stopped at the side of the track on his way back to the pits, sparking rumors of a possible penalty for the reigning Champion.

With Lewis Hamilton on pole for the first time since the Singapore Grand Prix, the Briton will be unquestionably striving to win tomorrow’s race. However, with the likes of Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel and even Pastor Maldonado in close proximity on the grid, anything could happen during tomorrow’s 55-lap Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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