The stage is set for a dramatic conclusion to the Formula 1 season after a gripping qualifying session under the lights in Abu Dhabi. Max Verstappen will start from the front, but the championship advantage remains firmly with his rival, Lando Norris.
Verstappen delivered a blistering final lap to claim pole position, edging out the McLaren duo of Norris and Oscar Piastri, who will line up second and third respectively. However, with the title to be decided on Sunday, grid position is only the opening move in a high-stakes strategic battle.
The Dutchman, who has mounted a remarkable late-season charge, was unequivocal about his approach. “It’s all out for me,” he stated. “I have nothing to lose. I’m here to win, to defend, to attack—that’s the only way.”
Despite starting behind, Norris carries a significant points buffer into the finale. He leads Verstappen by 12 points and Piastri by 16. The mathematics are clear: a podium finish for the British driver will be enough to secure his maiden world championship, regardless of his rivals’ results. Verstappen must win and hope Norris finishes off the podium, while Piastri’s hopes are slimmer still, requiring victory and a low finish from his teammate.
Norris appeared calm under the immense pressure, dismissing the notion of being the ‘hunted.’ “Having the advantage is a good position to be in,” he remarked. “We go into tomorrow with a plan to win the race, whether that’s on pure pace or strategy.”
The session itself was a tense affair, with Verstappen finding critical performance when it mattered most. His final flying lap of 1:22.207 proved unbeatable, even as both McLaren drivers improved on their last attempts. The pole caps an extraordinary resurgence for the reigning champion, who has taken five victories in the last eight races.
Meanwhile, the season ended in bitter frustration for Lewis Hamilton. After a crash in final practice caused by a suspected car failure, a repaired Ferrari could only manage 16th in qualifying, eliminated in the first segment. The seven-time champion, enduring his worst-ever season without a single podium, was left despondent. “I don’t have the words,” Hamilton said. “It’s an unbearable amount of frustration.”
All focus now shifts to the grand prix, where three drivers will battle for the ultimate prize, with strategy, nerve, and the first corner poised to write the final chapter of the season.