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Qualifying facts and stats: Verstappen takes first non-Mercedes pole in Abu Dhabi since 2013

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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 12: Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of

Max Verstappen broke an incredible run of Mercedes pole positions in Abu Dhabi - and Mercedes-powered pole positions in 2020 - with a stunning P1 performance on Saturday at Yas Marina Circuit. Here are the numbers from the scintillating final qualifying session of the season.

  • Red Bull's Verstappen takes the only pole of the 2020 season for anybody without a Mercedes power unit.

  • Verstappen ends Mercedes' run of being 1-2 in every Q3 session at Abu Dhabi in the hybrid era (Red Bull took last pole here in 2013 thanks to Mark Webber).

READ MORE: Verstappen stuns Mercedes by taking first pole of the season in Abu Dhabi

  • Verstappen has never a led a lap at Yas Marina in his F1 career.

  • Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas will start second on the grid for the ninth time in 2020.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 12: Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of

Hamilton starts behind Verstappen on Sunday, in P3

  • Lewis Hamilton has his worst performance in a dry qualifying session in 2020 by qualifying third in Abu Dhabi.

  • Hamilton is off the front row in Abu Dhabi for only the second time in the history of this race (started fourth here in 2013).

  • Just 0.086 covers the top three on the grid.

  • Lando Norris qualifies fourth for McLaren, his best since the opening round of the season in Austria (when he started and finished third).

READ MORE: ‘I don’t know where it came from’ – Norris shocked by stunning P4 in Abu Dhabi qualifying

  • Norris outqualifies team mate Carlos Sainz 9-8 over the 2020 season. Sainz's P6 is his best since starting P6 in Russia (where he crashed on the first lap).

  • Red Bull driver Alex Albon completes the season without a top-three start, despite qualifying in the top five on seven occasions.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 12: Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4)

Norris took a brilliant P4 in Abu Dhabi qualifying

  • Daniil Kvyat takes P7 at Yas Marina for AlphaTauri after starting P6 at Sakhir. Tenth-place team mate Pierre Gasly ensures the team have both cars in Q3 for the fourth time in the last five races

  • Lance Stroll starts P8 – his second top-eight start in the final eight races of the season. He took pole position in Turkey.

READ MORE: Hamilton admits he’s ‘not 100%’ and expecting a tough race ‘physically’ after P3 in qualifying on race return

  • Esteban Ocon ends a run of 14 consecutive races in which he was outqualified by Renault team mate Daniel Ricciardo and beats him in a dry qualifying for the only time.

  • Ricciardo misses Q3 for the first time since the Spanish GP, 11 races, and the first time in Abu Dhabi since 2012.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 12: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia driving the (3)

Ricciardo said he was 'upset' by his final Renault qualifying performance

  • In his final qualifying session for Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel takes P13 on the grid, missing Q3 for the final 13 races of his career.

  • At Alfa Romeo, Antonio Giovinazzi outqualifies Kimi Raikkonen 9-8 in the 2020 season. Raikkonen makes it seven Q1 eliminations in the final eight races, having reached Q3 in Turkey.

  • Both Haas cars out in Q1 for the sixth race running.

  • Finally, George Russell is still yet to be outqualified by a Williams team mate.

READ MORE: Verstappen thrilled to net pole with ‘final send of the season’, as Horner says ‘he can always surprise you’

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