Max Verstappen will start the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from pole in a dramatic 2025 title decider, with championship leader Lando Norris alongside him and Oscar Piastri third. Verstappen was fastest with a 1:22.207, continuing his late-season surge, but Norris still controls the championship outcome.
Norris leads by 12 points over Verstappen and 16 over Piastri. He becomes world champion if he finishes third or better, or simply ahead of both rivals. Verstappen must win and hope Norris misses the podium, while Piastri needs victory and for Norris to finish sixth or lower.
McLaren say team orders will be used if necessary to secure the title. The race start is expected to be decisive, with Verstappen promising an all-out attack and Norris aiming to avoid trouble.
Lewis Hamilton endured another tough day, crashing in practice before qualifying only 16th, closing a winless and podium-less season for the first time in his career.
All eyes now turn to Sunday — Verstappen starts in clean air, but the championship stays firmly in Norris’s hands.
