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Piastri fastest from Norris ahead of Abu Dhabi Qualifying

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Oscar Piastri led Lando Norris as McLaren continued their dominance in final practice ahead of Qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia in action during the practice ahead of the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) © Associated Press

Oscar Piastri led Lando Norris as McLaren continued their dominance in final practice ahead of Qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Piastri was nearly two-tenths quicker than Norris, with Lewis Hamilton in third on his final race weekend for Mercedes but 0.390s off the pace which underlined McLaren's advantage.

McLaren have one hand on their first Constructors' Championship since 1998, as they lead Ferrari by 21 points coming into the season finale, and victory on Sunday for either driver would guarantee the title.

Carlos Sainz was the best of the Ferrari's in fifth, just behind Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc was only ninth. Leclerc, though, has a 10-place grid penalty for a new battery, so appears to have set up his car more for the race.

Kevin Magnussen led the majority of final practice but finished the session in eighth, with Haas team-mate Nico Hulkenberg in seventh.

Haas are five points behind Alpine in the battle for sixth in the Constructors' Championship.

Rosberg: McLaren in a league of their own, Lewis to finish on a high?

Qualifying will be held in cooler conditions after the sun sets, so the teams decided to leave it until the final 10 minutes of practice to show their hand as the temperature dropped during the session.

Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari were close to McLaren in the first two sectors but were losing a lot of time in the twisty final sector, which is full of corners.

Piastri was visibly more hooked up in the last sector compared to Norris, who was 0.193s behind his team-mate at the end of the lap.

"I think we're really starting to get a picture of the situation out there. McLaren are in a league of their own and then it's close behind," 2016 F1 world champion Nico Rosberg told Sky Sports F1.

Hamilton will be buoyed about his time as he was the only front-runner to improve on a second effort on the soft tyres at the end of the session.

Despite the older rubber, Hamilton was the closest challenger to the McLarens and will hope to produce something special in his final Qualifying for Mercedes later on Saturday at 2pm, live on Sky Sports F1.

"Lewis has a great chance to finish on a high here, at the moment, because he's started the weekend well, more comfortably than George," continued Rosberg.

"But we know that come qualifying, George usually finds some magic, so don't write him off yet."

Abu Dhabi GP Practice Three Timesheet

Driver Team Time
1) Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:23.433
2) Lando Norris McLaren +0.193
3) Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.390
4) Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.411
5) Carlos Sainz Ferrari +0.438
6) George Russell Mercedes +0.642
7) Nico Hulkenberg Haas +0.660
8) Kevin Magnussen Haas +0.661
9) Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.665
10) Sergio Perez Red Bull +0.850
11) Yuki Tsunoda RB +0.910
12) Alex Albon Williams +0.945
13) Pierre Gasly Alpine +0.975
14) Jack Doohan Alpine +1.001
15) Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +1.020
16) Valtteri Bottas Sauber +1.046
17) Liam Lawson RB +1.086
18) Lance Stroll Aston Martin +1.098
19) Zhou Guanyu Sauber +1.235
20) Franco Colapinto Williams +1.333

Sky Sports F1's live Abu Dhabi GP schedule

Saturday December 7
1.15pm: Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying build-up
2pm: ABU DHABI GP QUALIFYING*

4pm: F1 Academy: Race Two
5pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook

Sunday December 8
7.10am: F1 Academy Race Three
9.20am: F2 Feature Race
11.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Abu Dhabi GP build-up
1pm: The ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX
3pm: Chequered Flag: Abu Dhabi GP reaction
4pm: Ted's Notebook

*also live on Sky Sports Main Event

Watch the final race of the 2024 Formula 1 season - the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - live on Sky Sports F1, with Sunday's race at 1pm. Get Sky Sports F1 or stream with NOW

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