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 eventဣs of last season’s contentious finale. 

Hamilton made a strong start on Friday by leading teammate G𝄹eorge 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 F🌄P2. 

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

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

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

Red Bull ‘have the legs’ on Mercedes 

Russell echoed Hamilton’s though♛ts after ending the day second-𝓰fastest, 0.341s adrift of Verstappen. 

The Briton admitted Red Bull “had the legs” on Mercedes i🎶n the final session when 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, probabꦏly two-tenths ahead. Long runs, maybe🀅 even further. 

“We’ve got a little bit of work to do overnight, but compa🐽red to Ferrari it looked reasonable.” 

Russell believes the layout of the Abu Dhabi track suits Red 🎃Bull’s 2022 challenger “down to a t🔯ee”. 

“Race-run, as ꦦI 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 lots of slow♏ speed corners, this suits them down to a tee. 

“Pleased we’re much closer than we were at, let’s say, Spa, where it’s 🍸not too 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 whoꦅ knows where that can take us on Sജunday.”