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The Briton lapped the revised 5.2-km long Yas Marina track in
one minute, 23.691 seconds, the only driver to drop below the
1:24 mark with his 24-year-old Dutch rival fourth.
The Red Bull driver had lapped fastest in Friday afternoon's
opening session of track action with Hamilton, whose quickest
lap time was deleted, third.
But, the Dutchman could get no closer than 0.641 seconds off the
Briton's benchmark in the evening, though he did appear to have
the edge over Hamilton during the heavy-fuel race simulations.
"It’s been a relatively decent day," said Hamilton, while
praising the changes made to the Yas Marina track in order to
boost overtaking and give it a more flowing feel.
"We got through our sessions and still a bit unknown in terms of
pace but I’m sure it’s going to be super-close like it has been
in the previous races."
Verstappen and Hamilton head into Sunday's race, a winner-takes
all showdown, level on points. But the Dutchman is ahead 9-8 on
wins and will become champion if neither score.
The pair have already collided three times this season, raising
concerns that a thrilling title battle might end in a crash.
But the governing FIA has warned drivers of severe consequences,
such as a points deduction, for unsportsmanlike behaviour.
Verstappen, winner from pole position in last year's Abu Dhabi
finale, acknowledged his Red Bull lacked single-lap speed but
was encouraged by his race pace.
"We’re still learning and understanding a few things," he said.
"But clearly the short run didn’t go to plan, lacking a bit of
pace, but I think the long runs were quite a bit more
competitive.
Alpine's Esteban Ocon took advantage of the Red Bull's relative
lack of outright speed, going a surprise second fastest, 0.343
seconds adrift of Hamilton. Valtteri Bottas in the other
Mercedes was third, 0.392 seconds off the pace.
Kimi Raikkonen crashed in the closing minutes of the session,
with the resultant red flag bringing an early end to running.
The Finn, heading off into retirement on Sunday, lost control of
his Alfa Romeo at the left-handed Turn 14 and spun into the
barriers.
The 42-year-old, who ended the session 16th, walked away from
the shunt but his Alfa Romeo was a mangled mess.
"Yeah, I lost the rear," he said over the team radio in typical
deadpan style.
Sergio Perez was fifth in the other Red Bull ahead of Alpine's
Fernando Alonso and Japanese rookie Yuki Tsunoda in his
AlphaTauri.
Charles Leclerc was eighth ahead of Ferrari team mate Carlos
Sainz.
Frenchman Pierre Gasly in the other AlphaTauri rounded out the
top 10.
Williams reserve Jack Aitken replaced Mercedes-bound George
Russell in the opening afternoon session just five months after
having suffered a broken collarbone and fractured vertebra at
the Spa 24 hours sportscar race in Belgium and set the
17th-fastest time.
The second session, which began at the same time as Saturday's
qualifying and Sunday's race are scheduled to start, offered up
a more representative picture of the pecking order.
(Reporting by Abhishek Takle; Editing by Rohith Nair, Toby Davis
and Raissa Kasolowsky)
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