Sports Digest: Verstappen edges Hamilton for pole at F1 finale

AUTO RACING

A primary Method One championship for Max Verstappen was in attain after masterful Pink Bull technique helped the Dutchman overcome an early qualifying mistake to beat Lewis Hamilton for the highest beginning spot within the title-deciding Abu Dhabi GP.

Verstappen flat-spotted his medium tires in Saturday qualifying, which pressured Pink Bull to blueprint a plan to present its star any form of edge over his rival. Sergio Perez was tasked to assist and went out first within the closing qualifying section – a transfer that allowed Perez to tow Verstappen down the lengthy straight at Yas Marina Circuit earlier than Perez bailed out and sacrificed his personal lap to assist his teammate.

Verstappen clocked his lap at at 1 minute, 22.109-seconds, ok to carry off Hamilton by .371-seconds. The pole-sitter has gained in Abu Dhabi the final six years, together with Verstappen’s victory final season when he led all 55 laps across the yacht-filled marina.

Hamilton on Sunday will try to win a file eighth Method One championship to interrupt a tie with Michael Schumacher. Hamilton and Verstappen are tied within the standings – the primary time since 1974 that the highest contenders have been even going into the deciding race.

SOCCER:

ENGLAND: Manchester Metropolis maintained its one-point lead over Liverpool within the Premier League, as Raheem Sterling’s a centesimal league purpose secured a 1-0 dwelling win over Wolverhampton.

Mohamed Salah’s penalty within the 67th minute secured a 1-0 win at dwelling towards Aston Villa.

Chelsea remained two factors behind in third place, as Jorginho transformed two spot kicks – the second within the fourth minute of stoppage time – in a 3-2 win at dwelling towards Leeds.

• Cristiano Ronaldo’s thirteenth purpose of the season helped Manchester United shut in on the highest 4 with a hard-fought 1-0 win at last-placed Norwich.

GERMANY: Bayern Munich prolonged its lead within the Bundesliga to 6 factors, as Jamal Musiala scored in a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Mainz whereas Borussia Dortmund was held by native rival Bochum to a 1-1 draw.

HOCKEY

ECHL: A sport scheduled for Sunday between the Maine Mariners and Adirondack Thunder in Glens Falls, New York, has been postponed due to the league’s well being and security protocols. A make-up date has not been decided.

BASKETBALL

ELKS HOOP SHOOT: The Portland Elks Membership will maintain a free-throw taking pictures contest for youngsters ages 8-13 on Sunday, Dec. 19, at Rowe Elementary College in Portland. There isn’t any entry charge, however masks should be worn. Registration is at 9 a.m. Contest winners will advance to district championships. For extra info, contact Bruce Jordan at 207-415-3712 or Joe Winschel at 207-232-0133.

TENNIS

SANTANA DIES: Manuel “Manolo” Santana, who reached No. 1 on the planet rankings and was the primary Spaniard to win a Grand Slam singles title, has died. He was 83.

The Madrid Open introduced the demise of its honorary president on Saturday. No reason for demise was given.

Santana gained 4 main singles championships – the French Championships in 1961 and 1964, the U.S. Championships in 1965 and Wimbledon in 1966, the identical yr he reached No. 1. He was inducted into the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame in 1984.

SKIING

WORLD CUP: Lara Intestine-Behrami gained a ladies’s super-G in St. Moritz, Switzerland, racing down the sometimes difficult terrain 0.18 seconds quicker than Sofia Goggia.

Mikaela Shiffrin was precisely one second additional again of Goggia in third to retain her lead within the general World Cup standings.

• Swiss skier Marco Odermatt dominated the second males’s large slalom of the season to win by virtually six-tenths of a second in Val d’Isere, France.

Odermatt greatest dealt with difficult course circumstances following in a single day snowfall as he defeated Alexis Pinturault by .59 seconds. Austrian skier Manuel Feller was 1.24 behind in third for his first profession podium within the self-discipline.

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