Max Verstappen, the world champion, topped the time sheets in second practice while Lewis Hamilton could manage only ninth quickest. In the first practice session, Pierre Gasly had been quickest for AlphaTauri. However, in the more representative twilight running, identical to race conditions, Verstappen was on top, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in second. Hamilton, suffering with the porpoising that has plagued Mercedes in pre-season, was more than a second back on Verstappen, although his teammate George Russell did go fourth fastest. Verstappen passed Hamilton for the win at Yas Marina circuit on the final lap to seal his first title and deny the Briton his eighth. Verstappen did so after race director Michael Masi had intervened in adapting safety car rules to the circumstances. “I think it’s important that, as a sport, we are transparent,” said Hamilton.

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