F1 | Qualifying | Abu Dhabi GP | Verstappen on pole ahead of Norris and Piastri - Motorsport

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In a tense and finely poised final Qualifying session of the 2025 F1 season, the Yas Marina Circuit delivered drama from the very first laps of Q1 to the final seconds of Q3. With the championship battle between Max Verstappen and the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri reaching its climax, every run carried weight, and every mistake proved costly. Throughout the Qualifying session, track-limits violations, razor-thin margins, and strategic gambles shaped the order, setting up a thrilling grid for the 2025 F1 Abu Dhabi GP.

Ultimately, Verstappen rose to the occasion, securing a decisive pole position under the floodlights, while Norris and Piastri ensured McLaren remained firmly in the fight. Further down the order, several high-profile names—including Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz—fell victim to the unforgiving nature of qualifying. With the stage now set, Sunday’s showdown promises to deliver a gripping finale to an already intense season.

Q1: Piastri leads Verstappen; Hamilton knocked out

As Q1 began, Alpine led the field out, with Pierre Gasly on medium tyres ahead of Franco Colapinto on softs. However, Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg immediately set the early benchmark with a 1:23.473, placing him ahead of teammate Gabriel Bortoleto, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, and Gasly. Nevertheless, both Colapinto and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll soon lost their times due to track-limits infringements, an issue that persisted throughout the evening.

Before long, attention shifted to the championship protagonists: McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Verstappen was the first of the trio to post a time, going fastest with a 1:23.325 and leaving just over 11 minutes on the clock.
Even so, his hold on P1 was brief. First, Haas rookie Oliver Bearman went quickest with a 1:23.254, then Mercedes’ George Russell, who topped FP3, edged ahead with a 1:23.247, while Piastri slotted into third on 1:23.255. Meanwhile, Norris could only manage 1:23.430, placing him sixth and just behind Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, who logged a 1:23.417.

As the session progressed, the field tightened significantly. Hamilton improved to P5 with a 1:23.394, while Gasly lost his earlier lap entirely and fell to P20. Charles Leclerc also struggled on the medium compound, languishing down in P18. Furthermore, VCARB’s Liam Lawson surged to P8 with a 1:23.444, as Mercedes youngster Kimi Antonelli took P10 on 1:23.481, albeit still nine positions behind his teammate Russell.

Final runs and late drama

With five minutes remaining, drivers headed back out for their final attempts. After completing their out-laps, the closing two minutes produced a flurry of improvements.
To begin with, Piastri stormed to provisional pole with a superb 1:22.605, while Norris—despite a moment at Turn 5—secured P2, albeit 0.573 seconds adrift.
Shortly afterwards, Williams’ Carlos Sainz briefly claimed P3 with a 1:23.187, yet he quickly dropped to P6 as Verstappen jumped to P2, Antonelli to P3, and Leclerc to P4.
At the same time, Stroll climbed from the drop zone to P10, ensuring his passage into Q2, before Esteban Ocon claimed P12. Ultimately, Hamilton’s late effort fell agonisingly short; the veteran missed out on Q2 by a mere 0.008 seconds, as Yuki Tsunoda snatched the final spot in P15 with a 1:23.386.

Out after Q1:

Lewis Hamilton – P16
Alexander – P17
Nico Hulkenberg – P18
Pierre Gasly – P19
Franco Colapinto – P10

Q2: Russell leads Verstappen and Norris, Antonelli and Beaman out

Verstappen once again led the field out as Q2 began, immediately establishing the early benchmark with a 1:22.912 on used tyres and more than 11 minutes remaining.
Soon afterwards, the Haas pair of Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman posted their first laps, with Ocon narrowly ahead on 1:23.187. Carlos Sainz quickly bettered both, slotting into P2 with a 1:23.172.

Nevertheless, the first serious challenge to Verstappen came from George Russell. With around eight minutes left, he surged to the top with a 1:22.730. Moments later, Oscar Piastri claimed P3 with a 1:23.021, followed closely by Fernando Alonso in P4 on 1:23.036.

However, Lando Norris soon improved on his teammate’s effort, delivering a sharp 1:22.804 to take P2. Meanwhile, Gabriel Bortoleto climbed to P6, ahead of Lance Stroll, with Ocon ninth and Charles Leclerc sitting on the bubble in P10.

With just under seven minutes remaining, drivers headed back to the pits for fresh tyres and last-minute adjustments. Verstappen was the final driver to return, briefly leaving the circuit quiet before the field ventured out again with four minutes left.

Late surge and the fight for Q3

As in Q1, the final two minutes proved frenetic. Several midfield runners—Isack Hadjar, Yuki Tsunoda, Kimi Antonelli, Bearman, and Liam Lawson—battled intensely for a coveted spot in Q3.

Leclerc, still in P10, delivered the first major improvement, jumping to P4 with a 1:22.948. Tsunoda followed suit, moving into P6 with a 1:23.034.
Shortly after, Bortoleto impressed again, moving up to P4 on a 1:22.874, while Hadjar claimed P6 with a 1:22.997. Ocon then secured his Q3 berth by posting 1:23.023.

However, Bearman narrowly missed out. His 1:23.041 left him in P11—just shy of the cut. Ultimately, he joined Sainz, Lawson, Antonelli, and Stroll in elimination.

Out after Q2:

Oliver Bearman – P11
Carlos Sainz – P12
Liam Lawson – P13
Kimi Antonelli – P14
Lance Stroll – P15

Q3: Verstappen on pole, Piastri P2

The Red Bull pairing of Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda initiated the Q3 proceedings, with the remaining eight drivers swiftly following them onto their out-laps. As expected, Verstappen immediately asserted himself, delivering an early benchmark of 1:22.295 on soft tyres. This placed him comfortably ahead of Gabriel Bortoleto, Isack Hadjar, and Esteban Ocon.

Shortly afterwards, Lando Norris—running on used softs—set his first time, a 1:22.751, to move into P2. Oscar Piastri then went faster still, producing a clean 1:22.622 to edge ahead of his teammate. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc slotted into P4 with a 1:22.794, while George Russell took P5 on 1:22.868 after wrestling his Mercedes through the tricky Turn 5.

In contrast, Tsunoda had yet to set a time, instead playing the team role. Red Bull instructed him to provide Verstappen with a tow on the final runs to strengthen the Dutchman’s bid for pole.

With their initial laps complete, the field headed back to the pit lane for fresh tyres and final adjustments. Tsunoda remained without a time on the board, though his priority was clear: assist Verstappen’s qualifying charge.

Just under three minutes remained when the drivers rejoined the circuit, with Piastri leading Norris and Verstappen out onto their preparation laps for the decisive run.

Final attempts and the fight for pole

As the clock ticked into the final minute, the grid launched into their last attempts to take pole at the 2025 F1 Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying. Bortoleto was the first to improve, although the spotlight quickly shifted to the McLarens. Norris delivered a superb middle sector—around a tenth quicker than Piastri—and ultimately clocked a 1:22.408, moving him onto the front row.

Nevertheless, Verstappen responded emphatically. Benefiting from Tsunoda’s tow and executing a clean lap, he improved to a commanding 1:22.207, securing pole position.

Piastri settled for P3 after being unable to match his earlier pace, while Russell—despite showing early promise—fell to P4 after a costly error compromised his final effort.