The final GP3 Series pole position belongs to Nikita Mazepin after a last gasp attempt at the Yas Marina Circuit.
Mazepin grabbed pole as the chequered flag dropped to deny championship leader Anthoine Hubert the opportunity to stretch his advantage.
Hubert lines up in third, with Leonardo Pulcini splitting the pair.
With the Russian’s four points for pole, the gap closes to 27 points with 44 on offer.
At the start Callum Ilott led his ART Grand Prix team-mates – and the rest of the field – out of the pits.
Mazepin, Hubert and Jake Hughes started swapping the top spot as the times tumbled.
As the field headed to the pits for fresh rubber, Hubert was on top of the standings having set the fastest time in the first two sectors.
With eight minutes remaining, the track action resumed and the battle for pole started again.
Richard Verschoor, Hubert and then Pulcini briefly went quickest and with one minute remaining it was the Dutchman that led his rivals.
As the chequered flag dropped Verschoor did not have enough to extend his lead. Pulcini put one hand on pole, that was until Mazepin crossed the line just behind him.
Hubert and Ilott were unable to improve as Hughes came through to pip Ilott of fourth.
Trident drivers David Beckmann, practice pacesetter Giuliano Alesi and Ryan Tveter were sixth, seventh and eighth.
Simo Laaksonen and Juan Manuel Correa completed the top ten.
The final GP3 Feature Race gets underway at 12.30 local time.
2018 GP3 Series Result: Yas Marina Circuit – Qualifying
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