Verstappen claims decisive Abu Dhabi pole, piles pressure on McLaren in title fight
Max Verstappen stormed to pole position ahead of Lando Norris at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Red Bull Racing driver clocked a staggering lap time of 1:22.207 to clinch the final pole position of the 2025 season, with the drivers’ championship finely poised.
How it happened:
Abu Dhabi GP Q1
The opening round of qualifying kicked off with several drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, who suffered a crash during the final practice session at the Yas Marina Circuit, hitting the track early on a medium tyre. The Scuderia Ferrari driver set a lap time quick enough for third place, behind the Saubers of Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto.
Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen, however, caused a shake-up on the pylon, with the four-time world champion clocking the quickest lap time of the evening.
The timesheet would change quickly as more rubber continued to be laid down on the track, and Mercedes driver George Russell went quickest with a staggering time of 1:23.247 ahead of Oliver Barman and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri after much of the grid completed their first push laps.
Championship leader Lando Norris briefly clocked the fastest time of the session, but his time was eclipsed by teammate Piastri with a 1:22.605, over half a second ahead of the British driver.
However, while the McLarens exchanged times at the top of the timing tower, several drivers, including Pierre Gasly, failed to progress to the second stage of qualifying. Williams Racing’s Alex Albon, Hulkenberg and Franco Colapinto were joined by Hamilton, who was only quick enough for 15th.
Abu Dhabi GP Q2
The second round of qualifying unfolded in similar manner, with Russell and Verstappen leading the pack after the first push runs at the Yas Marina Circuit.
The pair were followed by Norris and Piastri, who were just under three-tenths off the initial 1:22.730 time with which Russell led the session.
However, with the final runs during the second round of qualifying came changes to the initial order – albeit not at the top of the timing sheet. Russell will see teammate Kimi Antonelli suffer a second-round elimination. The Mercedes driver would be joined by Oliver Bearman, Carlos Sainz, Liam Lawson and Lance Stroll.
Abu Dhabi GP Q3
The final session of qualifying kicked off with Verstappen laying down the marker with a 1:22.295, over three-tenths of a second ahead of Oscar Piastri and championship contender Lando Norris.
The Red Bull Racing driver was aided by a tow from teammate Yuki Tsunoda. Mercedes driver Russell, who was quickest during the second round of qualifying, was only fast enough for fourth place after the first push laps in Q3.
However, with the final push laps of the 2025 season came changes to the pecking order. Piastri, who was the first to complete his final run, was only quick enough for third. Teammate Norris also failed to improve enough for pole position, albeit he was quick enough for second place.
Charles Leclerc clocked a time good enough for fifth, with Russell ahead of him. Fernando Alonso finished sixth, ahead of Bortoleto and Ocon. Isack Hadjar finished in ninth place, ahead of Tsunoda.
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