Carlos Sainz remains shaken in Abu Dhabi after a harrowing Friday crash, a sobering reminder that the final sprint of the season can bite hard. He finished last in the third morning free practice on Saturday and failed to progress beyond the first round of qualifying. It marked a rarity for the Spanish driver, a result not seen since 2019, and he will start 16th on the grid for the race on Sunday. The day left Ferrari with a feeling of unfinished business as the team sought to capitalize on a potentially decisive weekend for the constructors’ standings.
Classification and starting order of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi GP with Alonso 7th and Sainz 16th
We get a candid glimpse of the tension inside the Ferrari garage. The team watched Sainz admit that he entered the final lap with precious little margin and too much traffic on track. He said he left the garage late, and when his lap finally began, all others were finishing theirs, making the first and second sectors hard to navigate cleanly. The Madrid native expressed a willingness to fight back, knowing the race can still provide opportunities to recover positions depending on strategy and clean execution. With four points separating Ferrari and Mercedes in the battle for runner-up in the constructors’ standings, the day’s outcome could hinge on Ferrari’s collective effort and Leclerc’s performance as much as on Sainz’s recovery drive.
Alonso not considering title: “No matter how it ends, I’ll stay with the fact that I’m competitive in 2023”
The narrative around Fernando Alonso centers on resilience. He conceded that the weekend had not been kind to their pace, noting difficulties with the soft compound tires and a lack of overall speed in the quickest sectors. In a tightly packed grid, mistakes carry a heavy price, a lesson he acknowledged with equal parts frustration and determination. Alonso sits fourth in the drivers’ standings with 200 points, while teammates and rivals hover nearby. The Spaniard stressed that every effort will be made to maximize tomorrow’s potential, underscoring the stubborn resolve that has defined his season.
As the championship picture tightens, Sainz remains in the hunt for meaningful points. He is positioned behind leaders and close challengers like Fernando Alonso, Lando Norris, and Charles Leclerc. The conversation around Ferrari’s plan emphasizes not just personal results but the broader strategy to climb the constructors’ ladder in this final act of the year. The focus shifts to how the team navigates a demanding Sunday and how Leclerc’s pace could influence the overall trajectory of Ferrari’s campaign.
Verstappen wins last pole position of the year in Abu Dhabi
In the wake of Friday’s incident, Max Verstappen spoke about the collision and its aftermath with a calm confidence. He described the incident as a deep corner contact but stressed that it did not erode his composure. With a pole position secured for the final race of the season, Verstappen highlighted the importance of clean execution and avoiding unnecessary risk in a race that often tests even the steadiest hands. His performance adds another chapter to a year defined by consistency and precision on the track, setting the stage for a dramatic Abu Dhabi finale.