Max Verstappen took the ultimate pole place of the season on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, forward of title rivals Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Verstappen dominated Q3, finishing two quick laps and setting a greatest time of 1 minute 22.207 seconds, taking his eighth pole place of the yr, essentially the most for a driver in 2025. Utilizing solely used tires in Q2 made the highway simpler, and he was one in all three drivers (none of whom have been in a McLaren) capable of have two units of recent softs in Q3.
The Dutchman used them successfully and took provisional pole, setting purple occasions within the first two sectors and doubling them on the ultimate lap. This stunned McLaren, who had appeared like a staff able to profitable all through observe, whereas Pink Bull appeared to be battling their setup.
“I undoubtedly assume it felt somewhat bit higher in qualifying due to the modifications[made after FP3],” he stated. “In Q3, the observe temperature was dropping round right here so we may push somewhat bit extra and that is precisely what we did.
“We have been capable of enhance our lap time somewhat bit extra and naturally I am very glad to be in first place. That is the one factor we are able to do, the one factor we are able to management. We’ll attempt to get essentially the most out of every little thing the automotive has and we undoubtedly achieved that in qualifying.”
The battle for the entrance row spot was dominated by McLaren team-mates Norris and Piastri, with the Australian taking the lead on the primary run by a margin of 0.129 seconds.
Norris’ clear lap turned the tables on his last run, with Piastri’s response simply 0.029 seconds behind. Nonetheless, neither may get near Verstappen, with Norris’ greatest time 0.201 seconds slower than the reigning champion.
“Max did a very good job so I congratulate him,” Norris stated. “We did every little thing we may.
“I believe my lap was fairly good. I am fairly glad. After all it is disappointing to not get pole place on the ultimate weekend, however I wasn’t quick sufficient right now. I will must strive that tomorrow.”
Even when the title contenders end the place they began, Norris will nonetheless win the championship, and a podium end will seal the deal, no matter the place the others end.
Yas Marina’s final 10 pole sitters go on to win races.
“There can be a time to consider it,” Norris stated. “For now, it is a disgrace that we could not get pole place. We nonetheless wish to win tomorrow, in order that can be our aim.”
Piastri was happy to have the ability to bounce again from a troublesome Friday that compelled him to overlook FP1 and gradual him down in FP2.
“It was good to lastly get right into a rhythm going into the weekend,” he stated. “Truthfully, I believe the final lap of Q3 was fairly good. There was nothing left. Tomorrow goes to be a reasonably thrilling day.”
The Australian prompt it will be troublesome for Verstappen to win from pole place.
“We’ll discover out tomorrow,” he stated. “Max appeared very quick on his lengthy runs this weekend and was clearly very quick in a single lap. We’ll see how a lot tempo is an element tomorrow.”
George Russell was ruffled en path to fourth place, 0.438 seconds off the tempo. He was lower than 0.1 seconds quicker than Charles Leclerc, however he was stunned to advance to Q3 in a resistant Ferrari.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso completed sixth forward of Gabriel Bortleto, who completed 12-11 in qualifying with teammate Nico Hulkenberg.
Esteban Ocon completed eighth in his third Q3 look this yr, and first since Monaco in Might.
Isaac Hajar certified ninth in his sixteenth Q3 look, essentially the most of any midfield driver, forward of each front-runners Lewis Hamilton and Yuki Tsunoda.
Tsunoda, making his seventh Q3 look for Pink Bull Racing and his first since Azerbaijan in September, certified tenth with no time after being trailed by Verstappen in a slipstream on his first run. The staff seems to have tried to create the identical situation for Verstappen’s second lap, however failed.
Oliver Bearman missed out on qualifying for Q3 by simply 0.007 seconds and can begin the race from eleventh forward of Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson.
Kimi Antonelli was upset to be eradicated in 14th place, with the Italian rookie complaining that he did not have sufficient grip on his last run and fell off quicker than Lance Stroll in fifteenth place.
Lewis Hamilton suffered his third successive Q1 knockout within the last qualifying session in an intense last chapter of his first Ferrari race.
Hamilton’s automotive is prepared for the beginning of Q1 following repairs following his crash in FP3, and the Brit reported that he felt good from the cockpit throughout a brief medium tire shakedown to examine the work. Nonetheless, the Briton was unable to place collectively a aggressive lap on the finish of Q1, when the course was quickly enhancing, and a tough last sector meant he was eradicated in sixteenth place, simply 0.008 seconds wanting qualifying for the following phase.
Williams’ Alex Albon was eradicated in seventeenth place, forward of Nico Hulkenberg and Alpine teammates Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto. Though that they had a number of laps eliminated for exceeding observe limits, their lap in the back of the pack was typical.
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