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Russell tops practice times to outpace title-chasing trio / Photo: Andrej ISAKOVIC - AFP
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Russell tops practice times to outpace title-chasing trio
George Russell on Saturday threw a spanner into the best-laid plans of the three protagonists for the drivers' title with a scorching lap to top the times in final practice for this weekend's decisive season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Mercedes driver clocked a best time of one minute and 23.334 seconds to outpace McLaren's series leader Lando Norris by 0.004 seconds with Red Bull's four-time champion Max Verstappen third 0.180 adrift.
The third contender, Oscar Piastri, was fourth in the second McLaren, 0.259 seconds down after an improved session in cooling conditions ahead of qualifying set to be run as the sun sets later on Saturday.
Norris, who leads Verstappen by 12 points and Piastri by 16, will seal his maiden title on Sunday if he finishes on the podium.
Esteban Ocon was fifth ahead of his Haas team-mate Oliver Bearman, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, rookie Kimi Antonelli in the second Mercedes and the Williams pair Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz.
The action was interrupted by red flags when seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, enduring the worst season of his Formula One career and without a podium finish, crashed after a spin in his Ferrari. He was unhurt.
The session began in bright, warm conditions with an air temperatures of 27 degrees Celsius (80.6 Fahrenheit) but 38 degrees on the track. On the opening runs Norris went top ahead of Leclerc.
Piastri was 0.5 adrift but closing in before Hamilton and then Verstappen took over after Norris's quicksilver reactions helped him avoid a collision with the dawdling Red Bull of Yuki Tsunoda at the exit of the blind Turn 11.
Verstappen's lap in 1:24.245 kept him 0.059 clear of Lance Stroll and Bearman before Hamilton spun into the barriers, his Ferrari snapping out of control at high speed.
"Something buckled at the front and snapped the rear," he told his team before climbing out unaided and assisting in clearing debris including a broken front wing.
- 'The car still jumps' -
It was another nightmare setback for the Briton who has the best record of all at the Yas Marina Circuit with five pole positions and five wins to his name.
After a 10-minute red flag intermission, Piastri, who had missed Friday's opening practice, down in 15th and in need of a confidence boost ahead of qualifying delivered a near-perfect lap. His time of 1:23.593 put him ahead of Verstappen by half a second.
Norris, with a blistering final sector, regained the initiative in 1:23.338, two-tenths faster.
It was a reminder of McLaren's pace.
The luckless Tsunoda, in his final race with Red Bull, then collided with Antonelli's Mercedes in the pit lane.
In a final flurry of urgent laps, Russell outpaced the three title rivals while Verstappen improved to split the McLarens.
"The car still jumps," said Verstappen on team radio as he sought more control and speed. "I can't keep my feet on the pedals."
(M.Scott--TAG)
