Dec 11, 2021 Formula One title rivals Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have urged people to vaccinate against COVID-19 as the sport grabs the world’s attention ahead of Sunday’s winner-takes-all showdown in Abu Dhabi. The season-ending race pits Mercedes’ seven-times world champion Hamilton against Red Bull’s Verstappen with the pair level on points but the

11:41 AM ET ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Max Verstappen‘s pole position lap at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was “insane” and one of the best he’s had, said Red Bull boss Christian Horner. Verstappen put himself in the perfect position to win his first world championship on Sunday, out-qualifying title rival Lewis Hamilton

1:20 PM ET ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton will start alongside each other on the front of the grid at the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Any other front row would not have seemed right ahead of Sunday’s winner-takes-all showdown, and given the performance of the two title rivals

6:36 AM ET Nate Saunders Close F1 Associate Editor • Previously worked in rugby union and British Superbikes • History graduate from Reading University• Joined ESPNF1 in February 2014 Laurence Edmondson Close F1 Editor • Joined ESPN in 2009• An FIA accredited F1 journalist since 2011 ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton are battling for

12:00 PM ET Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff and his Red Bull rival Christian Horner put on a display of sportsmanship ahead of the Formula One title showdown at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, after months of trading bitter barbs. Facing the media with the constructors’ championship trophy between them, the pair shook hands

10:42 AM ET ABU DHABI — Fernando Alonso believes Max Verstappen deserves to win the championship more than Lewis Hamilton because he’s been “one step ahead” of every other Formula One driver this year. Verstappen and Hamilton are in a winner-takes-all situation at this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as they are level on points

7:01 AM ET Kimi Raikkonen said on Thursday he was looking forward to retirement after 19 seasons and 349 races in Formula One and would be less emotional about it than his wife Minttu. Ferrari’s 2007 world champion, now driving for Alfa Romeo, has one more race in Abu Dhabi on Sunday before he calls

7:53 AM ET ABU DHABI — Max Verstappen believes the FIA treated him unfairly at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after he was penalised twice by the race stewards at last weekend’s race. Verstappen will win his first world title at this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix if he finishes the race ahead of championship

7:15 AM ET The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be staying on the Formula One calendar until at least 2030, the sport announced on Thursday ahead of the season-ending title-decider at Yas Marina. The race is one of four in the Middle East, with Qatar and Saudi Arabia making their debuts this year on long-term

5:48 AM ET Kimi Raikkonen’s first memory of racing a car dates back 32 years. He didn’t have a driving licence at the time (he was only ten years old), but in the Finnish town of Espoo in the early 1990s that didn’t seem to matter. The car was an old Lada, which may or