Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, edging out teammate Lando Norris by just three hundredths of a second. The Dutchman's dominant performance was marked by an impressive first flying lap that saw him post a time of 1:22.207.
Norris, who trails Norris in the championship standings, will have to settle for second on the grid. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to match Verstappen's pace and was left disappointed at the podium. Piastri finished third, giving McLaren a strong platform going into Sunday's title-deciding race.
Verstappen's pole position marks a significant shift in momentum heading into the final round of the season. With his championship hopes hanging in the balance, Norris remains focused on securing the title with a top-three finish. However, it's worth noting that Verstappen has shown impressive form throughout the weekend, and his dominance may prove difficult to overcome.
The qualifying session saw several other drivers struggle to find consistency, with Hamilton struggling once again to make an impact on the track. The Ferrari driver was knocked out of Q1 for the final time this season, leaving him 16th on the grid.
As the teams prepare for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the season, one thing is clear: Verstappen's pole position sets the scene for a heart-stopping finale in Abu Dhabi. Will Norris be able to mount a comeback and claim his first championship title? Or will Verstappen's superior form prove too much to handle? Only time will tell.
The grid looks like this:
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.201
3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.230
4. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.438
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.523
Sunday's F1 Grand Prix is set to get underway at 1pm, with qualifying timesheet available on the Sky Sports website.
Norris, who trails Norris in the championship standings, will have to settle for second on the grid. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to match Verstappen's pace and was left disappointed at the podium. Piastri finished third, giving McLaren a strong platform going into Sunday's title-deciding race.
Verstappen's pole position marks a significant shift in momentum heading into the final round of the season. With his championship hopes hanging in the balance, Norris remains focused on securing the title with a top-three finish. However, it's worth noting that Verstappen has shown impressive form throughout the weekend, and his dominance may prove difficult to overcome.
The qualifying session saw several other drivers struggle to find consistency, with Hamilton struggling once again to make an impact on the track. The Ferrari driver was knocked out of Q1 for the final time this season, leaving him 16th on the grid.
As the teams prepare for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the season, one thing is clear: Verstappen's pole position sets the scene for a heart-stopping finale in Abu Dhabi. Will Norris be able to mount a comeback and claim his first championship title? Or will Verstappen's superior form prove too much to handle? Only time will tell.
The grid looks like this:
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.201
3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.230
4. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.438
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.523
Sunday's F1 Grand Prix is set to get underway at 1pm, with qualifying timesheet available on the Sky Sports website.