F1 | Front row lock-out for Oracle Red Bull Racing in Abu Dhabi

Verstappen and Perez Start 1 and 2 In The Final Race of The Season as Perez Fights For Second In The Championship Standings.

Max Verstappen will start the final race of a 2022 season that he has dominated from pole position after finishing ahead of Oracle Red Bull Racing team-mate Sergio Pérez in Abu Dhabi.

Mercedes had been fastest during the practice sessions but were unable to challenge during qualifying as Verstappen took pole by 0.228 seconds from Pérez at Yas Marina Circuit.

Such was the dominance of the double world champion that once he had secured pole he was able to provide his Mexican team-mate – who is aiming to clinch second place in the championship – with a tow to help him secure second place.

Pérez is currently locked on points with Charles Leclerc in the standings and will start one place ahead of the Ferrari driver on Sunday.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 19: Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 on track during final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on November 19, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202211191347 // Usage for editorial use only //

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 19: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 on track during final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on November 19, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202211191361 // Usage for editorial use only //

Verstappen who goes for win number 15 on the season further extending the record books said after winning the pole; “It couldn’t have been better today, the tow worked out well as we managed to lock out the front row. We went out there and did our thing. As a Team we had an almost perfect qualifying and we are very excited for tomorrow. The most important thing is that Checo stays ahead of Charles so we’ll do what we can to make that happen. I do think that our car is quick, there’s a massive question mark around the other teams though and how much long-run performance they will have gained overnight. We made a few mistakes in Brazil I guess but we learn from that and we are back where we should be."

Perez who has to drive smart and aggressive knows what is on the line to finish the dream season for Red Bull winning the Constructors, the Driver’s Championship and finishing second in the standings as well.

“It is a great Team result for everyone back home and here in Abu Dhabi, we are in the best position to finish off the job and get that result tomorrow," said Perez. “It certainly was good teamwork with Max today, it was important to get both cars as high up as possible for the race. My Q1 and Q2 were looking strong, and I was hoping for more, but then Q3 wasn’t ideal, especially our first run. That put us on the back foot a little and in the end, it wasn’t good enough for P1. We have a very long race ahead of us, so we need to finish the job off tomorrow and deliver a massive result for the Team. It will be important to get off the line well and get a strong start to get away from Charles. We are certainly confident going into tomorrow that our race pace is good and we can race harder. We are a lot happier with performance than we were in Brazil. It would be a huge year for us if we are able to get second place in the Drivers’ Championship and make history for the Team. We will work hard and hopefully we can succeed.”