Verstappen, until the end. Norris in the front row with Piastri behind. It will be a very high tension race
(by Daniele Sparisci, sent to Abu Dhabi) A roar greets Verstappen’s pole, the last of 2025. The one that could be worth everything, the fifth title. Or that it might not be enough, but in any case it would not take anything away from the sensational finish of the Dutchman, capable of recovering a 104 point deficit from Monza. A born fighter, he will try until the last corner of this championship which offers a heart-pounding GP.
Norris with a shot of the kidneys, after qualifying in which he paid for the pressure, he managed to reach the front row. A podium is enough for him to become champion, but Abu Dhabi teaches that anything can happen. He is in a favorable but not comfortable situation, behind him is Piastri. At this point it will be obvious that McLaren will adopt team orders to protect those further ahead in the standings. It will be 300 km of adrenaline, tension, mental games with many variables on the pitch, where the epilogue is anything but obvious. Even the Australian, -16 points behind in the standings, is theoretically still in the running for the title. How will he behave?
Max arrived calmly, he fought with the car until Saturday morning, then he managed to understand it, to invent a magical lap that earned him the 48th pole start of his career. He achieved it with his infinite talent, but also with a decisive tire strategy. Lando will have to avoid the chaos of the first corner at the start tomorrow, where he has everything to lose. And behind the papayas there is Russell, someone who doesn’t give discounts. And it has proven to be very competitive.
Charles Leclerc fifth, a half miracle in Ferrari’s black night. “It felt like we were in a rally,” said the Monegasque, referring to how he tailed the Ferrari on the hairpin bends of Yas Marina. Hamilton is missing, 16th. Third elimination in a row in the first phase of qualifying, it had never happened to him in his career. He made a mistake, he apologized. “I only feel anger and nothing else.” A season to forget, his first in red. Antonelli was also lost (14th), a shame because he had started well over the weekend. But the spotlight is all focused elsewhere, on the great F1 show for the World Championship.
