F1 race start time, odds and how to watch

21 races down, only one to go. Max Verstappen has steamrolled all comers, taking his third consecutive world drivers’ title and has so far won 18 of all of the races so far in 2023.

His Red Bull team have broken records, too, winning all but one race which included a streak of 15 which ran from the last race of the 2022 season.

Ferrari are the only team to have beaten Red Bull in 2023 and ran them close in Las Vegas last weekend, but can they or anyone else spoil their end of term party by winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in the United Arab Emirates?

Sadly for non-Red Bull fans, Max Verstappen will be the firm favourite after qualifying fastest for Sunday’s race. The Dutchman put his car on pole ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Mercedes’ George Russell.

Lewis Hamilton, in the second Mercedes, finished 11th whilst Carlos Sainz was down in 16th for Ferrari.

When is it?

The 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix runs from Friday November 24 until Sunday November 26.

What time do the sessions start?

All times Greenwich Mean Time

Friday, November 24

First practice: 9.30am
Second practice: 1pm

Saturday, November 25

Third practice: 10.30am
Qualifying: 2pm

Sunday, November 26

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: 1pm

What TV channel is it on?

Sky Sports F1 and NOW have near-exclusive live coverage rights in the UK this year and indeed for the next few with their usual excellent team.

Sky’s qualifying coverage on Saturday begins at 1.15pm GMT with their race program starting at 11.30am on Sunday morning.

Channel 4 also have an extended highlights package with their qualifying coverage at 7pm on Saturday evening, and their race program at 5.30pm on Sunday.

What were the times after qualifying?

Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1min 23.445secs
Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1:23.584
Oscar Piastri (Aus) McLaren 1:23.782
George Russell (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:23.788
Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren 1:23.816
Yuki Tsunoda (Jpn) Scuderia AlphaTauri 1:23.968
Fernando Alonso (Spa) Aston Martin 1:24.084
Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Haas F1 Team 1:24.108
Sergio Perez (Mex) Red Bull 1:24.171
Pierre Gasly (Fra) Alpine 1:24.548
Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:24.359
Esteban Ocon (Fra) Alpine 1:24.391
Lance Stroll (Can) Aston Martin 1:24.422
Alexander Albon (Tha) Williams 1:24.439
Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Scuderia AlphaTauri 1:24.442
Carlos Sainz Jr. (Spa) Ferrari 1:24.738
Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 Team 1:24.764
Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:24.788
Guanyu Zhou (Chn) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:25.159
Logan Sargeant (USA) Williams no time set

What do we know about the Yas Marina Circuit?

Circuit length: 5.281km
First grand prix: 2009
Laps: 58
Race distance: 306.183km
Lap record: 1:26.103 (Max Verstappen, 2021 on the old layout)
Number of corners: 16
2022 winner: Max Verstappen, Red Bull
Overtaking chances: It used to be quite a difficult track to overtake but changes made in 2021 seemed to have had a material effect on racing and for the better. The removal of the chicane that used to separate what are now turns four and five made the first hairpin a heavier braking zone and a decent opportunity – as Max Verstappen discovered on the final lap of the 2021 season. Besides that, the run with DRS into turn six is decent and a few of the re-profiled corners in the final sector also helped.