Verstappen surprises Hamilton and starts first at Yas Marina Circuit

Dutch driver Max Verstappen surprised his world championship rival, Lewis Hamilton, after Verstappen's strong performance today, Saturday, in the third qualifying period, by setting the fastest time for testing and taking first place for the start of the Etihad Airways Grand Prix, which will be held on Saturday. Tomorrow, at Yas Marina Circuit in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, is the final round of the Formula 1 racing season.

Dutchman Verstappen, in a Red Bull-Honda car, succeeded in the third qualifying period, setting the fastest circumnavigation time of one minute 22 seconds 109 seconds, 391 seconds ahead of Britain's Lewis Hamilton. Mercedes, who was satisfied with setting the second fastest time, while Briton Lando Norris came third in the McLaren team car, with a time of one minute 22 seconds 931 seconds, 882 seconds ahead of leader Verstappen.

The exchange of drivers for the dominance of the three qualifying periods reflected the strength of the rivalry that brought Verstappen and Hamilton together in the competition for the drivers' world championship title for the current season, especially since both drivers enter the "Yas Marina" race and share the lead in the overall championship standings with the same score of 369.5 points. After Hamilton tightened his grip on the first period, he set the fastest time in the circuit, at one minute 22 seconds and 845 milliseconds, 477 milliseconds ahead of his rival Verstappen, who was satisfied with second place, before the second period witnessed the Dutch driver reliance on the most tires Leonie "Soft" scored the fastest time and first place with a time of one minute 22 seconds and 800 milliseconds, a difference of 345 milliseconds from the British Hamilton, who relied on the use of medium-soft tires "Medium".In a choice adopted by the British to start the race tomorrow and adopt a different strategy from his Dutch rival.

Verstappen seeks in the Yas Marina Circuit race to repeat last year's scenario, after the Dutchman succeeded in snatching first place in the qualifying sessions, and followed by winning the race title.

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