Red Bulls’ Max Verstappen produced a qualifying lap worthy of a championship showdown as he secured pole for the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, capping an intense session that featured three drivers still in contention for the Formula 1 crown. Under the Yas Marina floodlights, the Red Bull star clocked a stunning 1:22.207 in Q3, a time that neither Lando Norris nor Oscar Piastri could topple, and set the stage for dramatic three-way battle for the title on Sunday.
Although Oscar Piastri led in the first Q1 and George Russell led Q2 for Mercedes, Verstappen timed his charge to perfection in the top 10 shootout. His first lap immediately put him in front of the McLarens, but in his final run he found even more speed, closing the gap and gaining authority when it mattered most. Over team radio, Verstappen’s reaction captured the moment: “That was crazy.” It was his eighth pole of the season and 48th of his career.
Watch the winning moment:
McLaren threw everything in its final laps, but Norris ended up losing 0.201 with teammate Piastri settling for third. With seven wins this season, the trio will now line up at the front of the grid with the title on the line. Norris is 12 points ahead of Verstappen and 16 ahead of Piastri, meaning a podium finish would guarantee the Briton his first title. Verstappen needs to win and hope Norris slips to fourth or lower, while a win in Piastre requires Norris to finish outside the top five.
Behind the title contenders, Russell finished fourth, Charles Leclerc secured fifth for Ferrari and Fernando Alonso took sixth for Aston Martin. Gabriel Bortoleto took seventh for Kick Sauber, Esteban Ocon, Isack Hadjar and Yuki Tsunoda completed the top ten.
There were also surprises in the order. Ollie Bearman and Carlos Sainz missed out on Q2 despite a strong pace at the start of the weekend. Liam Lawson took 13th, while Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli finished 14th, struggling with rear grip problems.
The biggest shock came from Lewis Hamilton, who crashed out in Q1 for the third race in a row, just hours after crashing in final practice. The seven-time champion will start 16th, in stark contrast to the high-stakes battle ahead.
With pole position historically crucial in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen’s statement lap set up a title finale that promises pure drama.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
December 6, 2025
