The world champion was on top but only because Max Verstappen pushed too hard and was left wondering what might have been over a damaged car, stranded on the track. Hamilton made an error on his first hot lap in Q3, briefly losing the rear, and had to abort his quick lap. He set a time of 1min 27.653sec, a fearsome target almost four-tenths up on Hamilton. A win for Hamilton at Jeddah would guarantee the championship will head to a finale at Abu Dhabi and, if Hamilton also scores fastest lap to a second place for Verstappen, the two rivals would go into the decider equal on points. He leads Hamilton by eight points and can take it this weekend in three ways: if he wins and scores the fastest lap and Hamilton finishes sixth or lower; if he wins without the fastest lap and Hamilton finishes seventh or lower; or if he outscores Hamilton by 18 points. For an uneasy period before the session began, Hamilton’s fate had been subject to the deliberations of the stewards.

Follow MotorMouth on social media:

• 
• 
• 
•