P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen took pole position for the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi, but championship leader Lando Norris crucially saw off McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri
“Max Verstappen secured pole position for the 2025 Formula 1 season finale in Abu Dhabi, with Lando Norris crucially beating his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.
Norris has the chance to win his first championship title on Sunday, whether he maintains his position or even drops to third.
Verstappen’s precise strategy and strong performance put him three tenths ahead of the McLarens in qualifying, claiming pole with a final time of 1m22.207s.
George Russell posed a threat in fourth place, Mercedes closest to the title contenders, while Charles Leclerc took fifth.
Fernando Alonso took sixth, continuing his trend of outqualifying his Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll.
Tsunoda ended up in tenth position after a challenging qualifying session, with a tight battle in Q2 where Ollie Bearman and Carlos Sainz narrowly missed advancing.
Hamilton faced a frustrating third consecutive Q1 exit, finishing behind Albon, who was eliminated in 17th place.
Gasly and Colapinto both struggled with track limits in Q1, with Gasly ultimately outperforming his teammate.”
