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Abu Dhabi - Valtteri Bottas beat Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton to take pole position for the season-ending 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Saturday.
Hamilton, who secured his fourth world title two races ago, led on the first two split times but lost time on the final sector.
Bottas secured his second straight pole position following the Brazilian GP two weeks ago and the fourth of his career — all of them since joining Mercedes this season from Williams.
As it happened: 2017 Abu Dhabi GP qualifying
The Finnish driver set a lap record on the 5.6km Yas Marina circuit, clocking 1min36.231 seconds. He was 0.172 seconds ahead of Hamilton and about half a second clear of Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.
After just missing out on a 73rd career pole, and a personal best-equaling 12th of the season, Hamilton praised Bottas, saying "he just had an incredible qualifying, so congratulations to him."
Vettel, who won the Brazilian GP, finished ahead of Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo and Ferrari team mate Kimi Raikkonen.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying times:
Q3
1. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1min36.231
2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1min36.403
3. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1min36.777
4. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 1min36.959
5. Kimi Rikknen (FIN/Ferrari) 1min36.985
6. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1min37.328
7. Nico Hlkenberg (GER/Renault) 1min38.282
8. Sergio Prez (MEX/Force India) 1min38.374
9. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 1min38.397
10. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1min38.550
Q2
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1min36.742 (Q)
2. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1min36.822 (Q)
3. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1min37.023 (Q)
4. Kimi Rikknen (FIN/Ferrari) 1min37.302 (Q)
5. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 1min37.583 (Q)
6. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1min37.777 (Q)
7. Nico Hlkenberg (GER/Renault) 1min38.138 (Q)
8. Sergio Prez (MEX/Force India) 1min38.359 (Q)
9. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 1min38.392 (Q)
10. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1min38.565 (Q)
11. Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren-Honda) 1min38.636
12. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Renault) 1min38.725
13. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren-Honda) 1min38.808
14. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas) 1min39.298
15. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) 1min39.646
Q1
1. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1min37.356 (Q)
2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1min37.391 (Q)
3. Kimi Rikknen (FIN/Ferrari) 1min37.453 (Q)
4. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1min37.817 (Q)
5. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 1min38.016 (Q)
6. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1min38.021 (Q)
7. Sergio Prez (MEX/Force India) 1min38.601 (Q)
8. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1min38.629 (Q)
9. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren-Honda) 1min38.777 (Q)
10. Nico Hlkenberg (GER/Renault) 1min38.781 (Q)
11. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Renault) 1min38.810 (Q)
12. Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren-Honda) 1min38.820 (Q)
13. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 1min38.896 (Q)
14. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas) 1min39.395 (Q)
15. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) 1min39.503 (Q)
16. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1min39.516
17. Pierre Gasly (FRA/Toro Rosso) 1min39.724
18. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber) 1min39.930
19. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) 1min39.994
20. Brendon Hartley (NZL/Toro Rosso) 1min40.471