Abu Dhabi: Lewis Hamilton stormed to the final pole position of the Formula One season with a dazzling display under the floodlights in Saturday's qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Briton, who wrapped up his sixth Formula One title two races ago at the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, lit up the Arabian dusk with a one minute, 34.779 seconds, beating Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas by 0.194 seconds.

The Finn, though, is carrying an engine-related penalty and is set to start at the back of the grid, elevating Red Bull's Max Verstappen, winner two weeks ago in Brazil, onto the front row alongside Hamilton. Saturday's pole was the 88th of Hamilton's career and fifth this season. It was also his fifth in Abu Dhabi but marks first time that he will start a race from the front since the German Grand Prix in July.