What a challenge: Max Verstappen races to pole position for the Formula 1 final with a fabulous lap. Norris doesn’t get close, but comes second, Piastri third. A thriller beckons.
Abu Dhabi – Max Verstappen fell into the arms of his proud girlfriend Kelly Piquet with a broad grin and enjoyed every moment after the optimal preparatory work for the heart-stopping finale of Formula 1. The four-time world champion shocked the McLaren duo with World Championship leader Lando Norris and World Championship third-place Oscar Piastri with a fabulous lap. Verstappen secured pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Norris came second in qualifying and Piastri third.
Verstappen makes a clear announcement for the race for the title
“That was crazy,” Verstappen radioed to the pits from his Red Bull: “That’s the only thing we could do. We can only control the race if we lead it,” he explained afterwards and announced for the last 306.183 kilometers of racing this year at the site of his first World Cup triumph in 2021: “I will defend, I will attack, I have nothing to lose.”
However, he needs help: Norris is unlikely to get past fourth place if Verstappen wins. In the standings, the Dutchman is 12 points behind Norris and 4 ahead of Piastri. Also means: Norris is world champion if he gets on the podium. Norris admitted that he was obviously disappointed not to be on pole and said Verstappen had done a “great job.”
Will Norris’ teammate be the buffer at the back?
Norris couldn’t – or didn’t want to – answer whether he was now just concerned with achieving the decisive podium place or with driving for victory: “I don’t know, I can’t say that now.”
The world title rivals among themselves – the showdown of the Formula 1 season has the makings of a horsepower thriller. “It should be a great finale,” McLaren’s managing director Zak Brown promised: “We don’t have to win the race, but we want to win it.” Since 2015, however, it has been cemented: the pole-sitter also wins the race, and this has happened ten times in a row.
The question is whether McLaren will prevent any risk of crash and distress for Norris in advance and whether Hunter Piastri will brake at the start. The day before, Boss Brown had announced the U-turn in terms of team orders and no longer ruled out a stable management. The 24-year-old Piastri, who is known for his coolness, even announced that it would definitely be an exciting day.
The psychological games are gaining momentum
The Australian and Norris know only too well who they are competing against. “When Max stands next to Norris, he usually gets nervous,” said Red Bull’s motorsport consultant Helmut Marko on Sky broadcaster, fueling the psychological games in the last 20 hours before the red lights went out.
The sun had already set in qualifying when the final battle for the best starting positions of the season began. The race will start on Sunday an hour earlier local time at 5 p.m. (2 p.m. CET/Sky), marking a ride into the dusk.
During the free practice sessions there were indications that a fast lap could be tight. Mercedes driver George Russell will start from fourth place next to Piastri and will try to attack directly.
It remains to be seen whether Yuki Tsunoda can be of help to Verstappen in his last Formula 1 race for Red Bull, as he was when he gave slipstream in qualifying. The extent to which his designated new teammate Isack Hadjar can perform his first duties in the Racing Bull is also important. He starts from ninth position, with Tsunoda next to him in tenth place.
A difficult anniversary race for Hülkenberg
Far from it, Nico Hülkenberg has to prepare for a difficult anniversary Grand Prix. The 38-year-old Rhinelander didn’t get past 18th place on the grid in his 250th race. It will also be the last time that Sauber competes in Formula 1 under this name; from next year it will be the Audi works team.
For Hülkenberg, the early exit was annoying, but it was manageable after a season with the first podium finish of his career and many other positive results. For Lewis Hamilton (16th), the fourth early qualifying knockout sealed a season on the verge of unbearability. “Sorry, guys,” he radioed to the Ferrari pits. “I don’t want to talk about it,” he commented tight-lipped in front of the TV cameras afterwards.
He had already looked like a heap of misery once in Abu Dhabi when Verstappen ended Hamilton’s title era in a dramatic finale in 2021. At that time, the Red Bull star took control of Formula 1, and now he may be on the verge of his fifth triumph in a row. dpa
