Fernando Alonso will start the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from P6.

Photo: RacePictures.

Three places behind the three drivers who find themselves still lock in a tight battle for the championship, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

When prompted with the potential scenario of the Dutch driver backing up the pack, Alonso's sarcastic reply triggered laughter from the present journalists.

"That's interesting. I didn't think about that," he said after the qualifying session at the Yas Marina Circuit. "Now I have something to work on tonight.

"Sometimes even if he slows slows down, it's still not enough for us to catch him so he needs to slow down a lot. But yeah we will try to do our race and if the strategy is open for more different things we will try to react."

Max Verstappen will start the race from pole position ahead of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Photo: RacePictures.

However, the two-time world champion, in a more serious tone, clarified his fight during tomorrow's race will be elsewhere, rejecting the notion that he has an iron in the fire in the three-way championship fight. "Obviously our race is with Haas and Sauber for the Constructor Championship. There is no other incentive for us tomorrow and we will try to control that."

Alonso doesn't want to 'be on the news on Monday'

Alonso then quipped that he would be keeping a watchful eye on the big screens around the track to keep tabs on the title fight ahead. "[I will be paying] A lot, a lot [of attention], because also it's a very easy circuit," he added.

"Turn three, you have a screen that, you know, is in the middle of your view. Turn five, you have a screen on the inside. Turn seven, on the inside, turn 7 on the outside, turn 9 there are two, one on entry one on exit, so plenty of screens. I mean tomorrow is gonna be a fantastic show for us."

When asked if he would play a role in the outcome of the fight for the crown between Verstappen, Norris and Piastri, Alonso nuanced his involvement. "Not really, I hope to be as far as possible from the fight. Well not too far because I want to win the points, but not in the news on Monday," he concluded.

Russell happy to be Verstappen's man 'in the mix'

After maximizing his Mercedes in qualifying dragging it to a P4 start, George Russell said he expects to be "in the mix" to influence the fight, suggesting Verstappen won’t let Norris have an easy podium. Read Russells full statements here.

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