Formula-1 news

The first day of Abu Dhabi practice saw the four title contenders to the fore, as everybody worked on setting their cars up and getting the best out of Bridgestone’s medium and super-soft tyres for the last time. Hamilton was quickest in what he felt was a much improved McLaren, but Vettel insisted there is more to come from Red Bull. We take a team-by-team look at Friday at Yas Marina

Four men could become world champion in Abu Dhabi this weekend. McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton has only an outside chance, but Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Red Bull’s Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel are all real contenders

Sebastian Vettel turned the tables on McLaren at Monza on Friday afternoon by setting the fastest time so far of 1m 22.839s, but the Red Bull driver was only 0.076s faster than Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and 0.222s ahead of Felipe Massa in the second F10. Soon after Massa had gone fastest with 1m 23.061s he was deposed by Alonso with 1m 22.915s, before Vettel displaced both.

Fernando Alonso gave the tifosi what they came to Monza for on Saturday, as he pipped McLaren’s Jenson Button to pole position for the Italian Grand Prix. The Spaniard took over setting the pace in Q2, and went faster still in Q3, clocking the only sub-1m 22s lap with 1m 21.962s for Ferrari on his first run in the final session.

He failed to improve on that, as a good jump forward by high-downforce Button left the reigning champion second on the grid with 1m 22.084s.

The title fight couldn’t be better poised as it enters its final European stage after the summer break, with only 20 points – less than you get for a win – separating the top five drivers.

In Hungary Mark Webber moved up to the lead with 161 points after becoming the only driver to win four times this season. He is chased by McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton on 157, Red Bull team mate Sebastian Vettel on 151, McLaren’s Jenson Button on 147, and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso on 141…

Lotus’s chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne is not your typical paddock personality. From his tattoos to his ‘Rottweiler’ nickname, Gascoyne is one of Formula One racing’s biggest characters. But after honing his skills during spells with Force India, McLaren, Sauber, Tyrrell, Jordan, Renault and Toyota, he’s also an ace in the design department. Here he discusses Lotus’s debut year, the team’s driver line-up and the 2011 season

The Hungarian Grand Prix couldn’t have been more disappointing for McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton – not only did his race end in retirement but he lost the top spot in the standings. Hamilton, however, has already shaken off any feelings of regret and is now fully focused on recharging his batteries over the summer break and returning to the fray later this month with a renewed sense of purpose. He explains more in an interview on his official website

Red Bull’s Friday pace around the Hungaroring looked ominous, even without an F-duct on the RB6 and regardless of tyre compound. Ferrari could have an answer, while McLaren admit they are a long way off an adequate response (and could come under threat from Renault on Saturday). We take a team-by-team look at early progress in Budapest

Sebastian Vettel was in a world of his own in qualifying as he thrust his Red Bull to a fastest time of 1m 18.773s, and his second-run lap of 1m 18.832s would have been sufficient to win him the pole too as team mate Mark Webber could not improve on his first effort of 1m 19.184s.

The only man to get anywhere near the Australian was Fernando Alonso with 1m 19.987s for Ferrari, then there was a big gap to Felipe Massa on 1m 20.331s in the other Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton who achieved McLaren’s dream with a top five time, 1m 20.499s.

Nobody could hold a candle to Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel on Saturday in Hungary – not even team mate Mark Webber, who took a distant second to the German’s dominant pole time. Together the duo look pretty invincible for Sunday’s race, but there’s no doubt Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa in third and fourth, and fifth-placed McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton will do all they can to stop Red Bull having it all their own way in Budapest. We take a team-by-team look at the pre-race form