ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – DECEMBER 06: Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Second placed qualifier Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren congratulate each other in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 06, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Bryn Lennon – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Formula 1 via Getty Images
Max Verstappen of Red Bull secured a crucial pole position for the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit.
The four-time world champion clocked a stunning lap time of 1m 22.207s to bag his eighth pole of the season ahead of championship leader Lando Norris, who pipped his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri to second place.
Now the Dutchman has a chance to secure his fifth consecutive world title if he manages to convert the pole into victory while Norris finishes in fourth or lower.
Meanwhile if Norris manages to stay among the top three the title will be his regardless of what his rivals do.
Piastri also has a chance to claim a maiden title if he wins the race while Norris finishes sixth or worse. He can also win it from second place if Verstappen comes in fourth or worse and Norris finishes 10th or outside the points.
Further down, George Russell secured fourth place for Mercedes ahead of Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, while Fernando Alonso took sixth in his Aston Martin.
Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto will start in seventh followed by Esteban Ocon of Haas, with Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls and Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda rounding out the top 10.
Elsewhere, Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli faced a Q2 exit with the 14th fastest time, while Lewis Hamilton found himself knocked out in the first segment for the third consecutive round, setting the 16th fastest time in his Ferrari.
Starting Grid For The 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Here’s the starting order for the title decider in Abu Dhabi:
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull): 1:22.207
- Lando Norris (McLaren): +0.201
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren): +0.230
- George Russell (Mercedes): +0.438
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): +0.523
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin): +0.695
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber): +0.697
- Esteban Ocon (Haas): +0.706
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls): +0.865
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
- Oliver Bearman (Haas): +0.834
- Carlos Sainz (Williams): +0.835
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls): +0.870
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes): +0.873
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin): +0.890
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari): +1.187
- Alexander Albon (Williams): +1.209
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber): +1.243
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine): +1.261
- Franco Colapinto (Alpine): +1.683
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race starts at 5 p.m. local time (8 a.m. EST, 1 p.m. U.K. time) on Sunday, December 7.