Max Verstappen will start from pole position in the season’s final race on Sunday. For Verstappen, this is the best possible starting position in his fight for title defense and an immediate psychological blow to McLaren’s competition.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix promises to be a thrilling climax to the Formula 1 season with three title contenders: Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri. In the qualifying under artificial light, World Championship leader Norris had to settle for second time on Saturday evening, ahead of Piastri and Russell. Therefore, Verstappen and Norris will share the front row tomorrow.
Here is a quick overview of the qualifying for the Abu Dhabi GP.
Q1: Piastri and Verstappen Strong, Hamilton Out
The qualifying of the year begins at 17:00 local time at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, with a pleasant temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. Mercedes driver George Russell – the fastest man in VT3 earlier in the day – gets off to a good start and leads the pack after the initial exchanges with the fastest time of 1.23,247, ahead of Oliver Bearman, George Piastri, and Max Verstappen. The track limits also play a significant role during the session, as a considerable number of times are immediately scrapped.
In the final phase of Q1, the real competition begins. World Championship leader Lando Norris secures his place on the rapidly evolving track (.23,178), but it’s not very convincing. In fact, his time is almost immediately crushed by his McLaren teammate Piastri (1.22,609) and shortly after by Verstappen (1.22,877). Norris eventually finishes sixth. In the back, Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton, who had a minor crash in VT3, disappointingly ends with the sixteenth time. Verstappen’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda makes it through, albeit by the skin of his teeth: as fifteenth.
Q1 Dropouts: Hamilton, Albon, Hülkenberg, Gasly, Colapinto.
Q2: Verstappen’s Bluff Pays Off
Max Verstappen is the first to hit the track for the second part of the qualification. On used softs, the four-time world champion clocks 1:22.912, a solid time to start with. Russell dips under his time shortly after, but Verstappen makes another attempt with the old tires and improves – thanks in part to a slipstream from Fernando Alonso – to 1:22.752. This saves him a set of softs for Q3 in the qualification. Verstappen is the only driver who dares to stay in for the rest of Q2.
McLaren doesn’t dare to take that gamble and Piastri and Norris are sent out with new soft tires. Verstappen’s bluff pays off, at no point is Q3 in danger for him. A second (strategic) stroke of luck for Red Bull is that Yuki Tsunoda also makes it to Q3, again as the last (tenth). The fastest time in Q2 is set by George Russell (1:22.730). Norris and Piastri advance as third and eighth respectively.
Q2 Dropouts: Bearman, Carlos Sainz Jr, Liam Lawson, Antonelli, Stroll.
Q3: Tsunoda Assists Verstappen with Slipstream
Tsunoda and Verstappen immediately head out for the most important Q3 of the year. The Japanese driver gives him a – albeit sloppily executed – slipstream. Verstappen clocks 1:22.295. Behind him, Norris crosses the line, the Brit is a full half-second behind (1:22.751). Piastri also doesn’t come close (1:22.622). Russell makes a mistake and falls well behind the McLarens.
Then the top ten go for the ultimate fast run. Russell hopes for a slipstream from Verstappen, but it doesn’t work out as planned. More importantly, Norris and Piastri can’t match Verstappen’s time, who even improves his time to 1:22.207. He will have to share the first starting row tomorrow with Norris, the second starting row will be formed by Piastri and Russell. Tsunoda sacrificed his qualification and will start the race from P10.
Top-10: Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Russell, Charles Leclerc, Alonso, Bortoleto, Ocon, Hadjar, Tsunoda.
