Verstappen, Perez lock out Abu Dhabi front row in all-conquering Red Bull machinery

Red Bull ace Max Verstappen once again asserted his Formula 1 dominance on Saturday as he took pole position in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying.

Verstappen blitzed the field to finish two-tenths of a second clear of Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, with the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz third and fourth, respectively.

Perez and Leclerc are level on points in their fight for second place in the championship.

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, who will retire after Sunday's race, qualified ninth.

QUALIFYING CLASSIFICATION@redbullracing lock out the front row for Sunday's race ??#AbuDhabiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/5HaUCeUdly

A sobering night

Hamilton, who earlier escaped a penalty for a red-flag infringement in final practice at the sport's season-ending race, qualified only fifth.

A year on from last season's contentious race, which cost Hamilton a record eighth world crown, the seven-time world champion has moved to banish the memory of his darkest day, insisting his thirst for the sport remains unquenched.

Hamilton will start Sunday's 58-lap race as the only driver in F1 history to end a season with at least one victory.

But he looks set to lose that unique record, with Red Bull locking out the front row at a track which suits their all-conquering machinery.

George Russell, who qualified sixth, dominated in Interlagos a week ago to claim the maiden win of his career and Mercedes' first of the season. However, under the thousands of bulbs that light up the Yas Marina Circuit, it was a sobering evening for the Silver Arrows, with Hamilton almost seven-tenths adrift.

One last quali push for Seb #AbuDhabiGP @AstonMartinF1 pic.twitter.com/y4qjJV4DRU

299th and final

Vettel will enter the 299th and final round of a