P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Oscar Piastri will start the Abu Dhabi GP behind his two title rivals, who he must beat in the race to have any chance of the title.
Australian driver Oscar Piastri has acknowledged the threat posed by Max Verstappen in the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after Verstappen clinched pole position over him.
Initially in second place on the grid during the final part of qualifying, Piastri was ultimately surpassed by his team-mate Norris.
Norris’ final lap edged out Piastri’s time, pushing the Australian driver back to third on the grid at Yas Marina Circuit.
Piastri admitted that he lacked the pace for pole position but expressed optimism about the excitement of the upcoming grand prix.
Looking ahead to the race day, Piastri must pass both Norris and Verstappen to secure the world championship and rely on potential setbacks for his team-mate.
While uncertain about his winning chances, Piastri emphasized the impressive performance of Verstappen and the need to assess the pace situation during the race day.
