Max Verstappen stormed to pole position for Formula 1‘s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, two tenths ahead of both McLarens, to set up an exciting showdown to the Drivers’ Championship.
The Dutchman keeps his title hopes going with top spot at the Yas Marina Circuit, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri failing to get near, the former making the front row by just 0.029s.
George Russell looked set for a realistic challenge for pole, but his pace deserted him at the finish, with Charles Leclerc fifth and Fernando Alonso sixth.
Q1 began with Verstappen setting an early benchmark of 1:23.325s, with Hamilton conveying positive remarks about Medium compound tyres.
After praising the “insane” pace of his Haas VF-25 on Friday, Bearman went fastest, by one tenth from Verstappen, but Russell went fastest by a fraction.
With everyone changing tyres for a second round, Norris went faster than Russell by a tenth, but Piastri went quickest with a 1:22.605s, half a second quicker than his team-mate.
Sainz popped up in fourth, with Antonelli going second, which was bumped down by Verstappen.
Leclerc went fourth, with Yuki Tsunoda on the bubble of elimination, but went 11th, with the chequered flag falling. Lance Stroll was set to be eliminated but moved up to 10th, with Alonso then going fourth.
Hamilton was now close to the exit, as Esteban Ocon went quicker. Then Gabriel Bortoleto took 14th, condemning Hamilton to another Q1 exit.
With his lap one of the last on-track, Piastri took first by over two tenths, keeping Verstappen and Norris on notice.
Alex Albon, Nico Hulkenberg, Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto joined Hamilton in elimination.
Russell fastest as Bearman and Antonelli head out, Tsunoda makes it through
Q2 began with Verstappen setting the first pace again, but Russell went faster by two tenths, with Alonso a shade behind in third.
Piastri went third ahead of Alonso, with Norris taking second. Piastri’s lap was two tenths slower than Norris, with Russell still looking like a potential spoiler.
Verstappen went faster than Norris, with Bortoleto occupying sixth spot. Tsunoda was once again on the bubble, with Lawson and Antonelli also looking under threat from elimination.
With seconds left, Leclerc made himself safe, with Tsunoda taking sixth. Antonelli went eighth, but was still vulnerable. Sainz knocked him down on place, with both Racing Bulls sending him back into elimination.
Ocon went eighth, with Tsunoda now also in danger. Alonso went fourth, with Sainz in the drop zone. Bearman could not make it through, and would be joined by Sainz, Lawson, Antonelli and Stroll.
Russell ended it fastest, with Verstappen second. Norris was third, with Piastri eighth.
Q3 was exciting from the beginning, with Verstappen going fastest with a 1:22.295s. Norris was second, half a second behind, with Piastri then besting him by one tenth.
Russell suffered a big slide on his first run, leaving him fifth.
Cars re-entered the track for their second runs, with the tension palpable. Not so for Russell, who joked that if Mercedes were to release him just behind Verstappen, he would give him a tow.
There was now just two minutes of 2025 F1 qualifying action left, with Piastri the first to go. His lap was a tenth of Verstappen’s. Norris went second, and Verstappen, to compound things more, went faster still, a 1:22.207s, to give him pole position.
Russell again suffered a big slide – this time coming out of the final corner – to finish fourth.
Leclerc was fifth, with Alonso and Bortoleto sixth and seventh, with Ocon, Hadjar and Tsunoda rounding up the top 10.
For Norris, it still leaves him in the driving seat for the championship, but with Verstappen ahead and Piastri behind, it sets up a thrilling climax to the season.
READ MORE – F1 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Qualifying Results
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