Lewis Hamilton gave his best in qualifying in Abu Dhabi, but it wasn't enough. Max Verstappen was simply on another level and, helped by teammate Sergio Perez, scored an incredible and unbeatable lap time which gave him his tenth pole position of the year. 

At the start of Q3 Lewis Hamilton was 5 tenths behind Verstappen, but he then tried to improve his lap time, closing the gap to three tenths. Both contenders will start the race from the front row, with the Dutchman wearing soft, while Hamilton will be on mediums. Different options and strategies available for them, as Verstappen has teammate Sergio Perez in fourth, while Valtteri Bottas, in his last weekend with the Mercedes outfit, is only sixth. 

There is all to play for in the race: Hamilton and Verstappen are on equal points in the standings, as the Dutchman has more wins on his side. Everything can happen tomorrow, when we will find out who is going to be the 2021 Formula 1 World Champion.

It has been a crazy, unpredictable and incredible season, but Hamilton recognizes Verstappen's hard work in his words after quali. 

"Well, firstly Max did a great lap today and we just couldn’t compete with that time at the end there - he admitted - it was a fantastic lap from him but we’re in a good position, I’d like to think, with our tyres tomorrow and I hope that we can have a good race.

''Well, firstly Max did a great lap today and we just couldn’t compete with that time at the end there. It was a fantastic lap from him but we’re in a good position, I’d like to think, with our tyres tomorrow and I hope that we can have a good race. On the first lap of Q3, I dropped a bit of time in the last corner and Turn 5, but my final lap was nice and clean, I just couldn’t go any quicker. I don’t know if it’s tyre prep or whatever it may be, in terms of the out lap, but nonetheless I couldn’t beat that time so he deserved the pole. I’m still on the front row for tomorrow, with the tyre difference and I’m grateful I can see where he is, so we can try and navigate from there.

"On the first lap of Q3, I dropped a bit of time in the last corner and Turn 5, but my final lap was nice and clean, I just couldn’t go any quicker. I don’t know if it’s tyre prep or whatever it may be, in terms of the out lap, but nonetheless I couldn’t beat that time so he deserved the pole. I’m still on the front row for tomorrow, with the tyre difference and I’m grateful I can see where he is, so we can try and navigate from there.''