This weekend sees Hamilton return to the scene of his controversial F1 title defeat at the hands of Red Bull’s 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen at the168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. 

Hamilton was denied a record-breaking eighth world title and Verstappen snatched his maiden drivers’ crown after then race-director Michael Masi botched the handling of a late 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Safety Car period. 

• A dig at Hamilton? Red Bull tweet reminder of controversial Abu Dhabi finish 

• F1 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Free Practice Results (2)

The seven-time world champion insisted ahead of the weekend that he168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: won’t be thinking about the event🍨s of last season’s contentious finale. 

Hamilton made a strong stꦿart on Friday by leading teammate George Russell in a Mercedes 1-2 during opening practice at the Yas Marina Circuit, though he finished fourth and half a second behind Verstappen in FP2. 

“I think it looks a bit closer,” Hamilton replied when asked♍ if he thinks Mercedes can carry over their rac🐼e-winning form from Brazil last weekend. 

“I think the Red Bulls look quicker here, which was expected. We didn’t expect this to be our str♛ongest race. But we’ll work hard overnight. We’re gen𝐆erally right there, so hopefully we can put up a good fight.”

However, Hamilton concede༒d that his race run “wasn’t very good, but I don’t know where it stands compared to the others.”  

Red Bull ‘have the legs’ on Mercedes 

Russell echoed Hamilton’s thoughts after ending the day second-fastest, 0.341🎐s𒁏 adrift of Verstappen. 

The Briton admitted Red Bull “had the legs” on Mercedes in the fi👍nal session when conditions were moreꦑ representative of qualifying and the race. 

“It felt fast out there but I think Red Bull just have the legs on us,” said Russell. “Single lap, probably two-🐷tenths ahead. Long runs, maybe even further. 

“We’ve got a little bit of work to do overnigᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚht, but co💛mpared to Ferrari it looked reasonable.” 

Russell believes the layout of the Abu Dhabi track suits ꧙Red Bull’s 2022 challenger “down to a tee”. 

“Race-run, as I said, a little bit behind Red Bull,” he adde🐓d. 

“We know they have a very slippery car, very efficient on the straights and on a circuit like this, with two long straights and lots of slow speed corners, this suits them down to a te🐻e. 

“Pleased we’re much closer t💛han we were at, let’s say, Spa, where it’s not too dissimilar.”

But Russell is rem🐲aining p🐻ositive that Mercedes can end a troubled campaign on a high note. 

“I think we’ll be fighting for it,” he said. “I’d like to think we’ll be fi🌱ghting for the top three in qualifying and who knows where that can take us on Sunday.”