VERSTAPPEN TAKES POLE IN TITLE-DECIDING ABU DHABI QUALIFYING
Max Verstappen will start the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from pole position. The Red Bull driver delivered a brilliant lap in Q3, beating McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Piastri was fastest in Q1 and George Russell led Q2, but Verstappen raised the bar at the start of Q3 and then improved again. His final lap, 1:22.207, secured pole.
Both McLaren drivers tried to take the top spot on their last laps, but Norris ended up second, 0.201 seconds slower than Verstappen. Piastri took third, setting up a three-way fight for the World Championship on Sunday.
Russell finished fourth for Mercedes. Charles Leclerc took fifth, and Fernando Alonso claimed sixth for Aston Martin. Gabriel Bortoleto impressed with seventh for Kick Sauber. Esteban Ocon in the Haas, and Racing Bulls drivers Isack Hadjar and Yuki Tsunoda, in his last qualifying for Red Bull, rounded out the top ten.
Haas driver Ollie Bearman, despite strong pace earlier in the weekend, did not make it into Q2. Carlos Sainz also missed out and finished 12th, just a week after his podium in Qatar.
Liam Lawson placed 13th for Racing Bulls. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli struggled with rear-end grip and ended up 14th, with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll 15th.
The biggest surprise in Q1 was another early exit for Lewis Hamilton. The Ferrari driver qualified 16th only hours after crashing in practice. Williams’ Alex Albon finished just behind him in 17th.
Nico Hülkenberg could not repeat his strong Friday showing and ended up 18th for Kick Sauber. Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto completed the grid in 19th and 20th.
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