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 events of last season’s contentious finale. 

Hamilton made a strong start on Friday by leading teammate George Russell in a M🥂ercedes 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 clo✅ser,” Hamilton replied when asked if he thinks Mercedes can carry over their race-winning form from Brazil last weekend𒐪. 

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

However, Hamilton conceded that his race run “wa💯sn’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, 0.341s adrift of Verstappen. 

The Briton admitted Red Bull “had the legs” on Mercedes in the final session w🍌hen conditions were more 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 b♓it of work꧋ to do overnight, but compared to Ferrari it looked reasonable.” 

Russell believes the layout of the Abu Dhabi track suits Reꦰd Bull’s 2022 challeng♋er “down to a tee”. 

“Race-run, as I said, a little bit behind Red🃏 Bull,” he added. 

“We know they have a very slippery car, very efficient on the straights and on a circuit like this, with two long straights and lot♑s of slow speed corners, this s𝓰uits them down to a tee. 

“Pleased we’re much closer than we were at, let’s say, Spa, where it’s not tཧoo dissimilar.”

🤡But Russell is🉐 remaining positive 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 fighting for the top three in qualifying and who knows where that can take us on Sunday.”