F1 Abu Dhabi live commentary and updates - Qualifying
Follow live updates of the final qualifying session in F1 2025 at Yas Marina Circuit
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Piastri: "The last lap in Q3 was pretty good, there's wasn't a lot left in that. Max has looked very quick in the long runs, let's see how much pace is a factor tomorrow."
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photo by: Peter Fox / Getty Images
Norris: "Max did a good job, so congrats to him. We did everything we could, my lap was pretty good so I'm happy. We just weren't fast enough today."
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photo by: Peter Fox / Getty Images
Verstappen: "Of course incredibly happy to be in first, that's the only thing we can do."
Should he win tomorrow then he will match Hamilton's record of five Abu Dhabi GP victories.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Peter Fox / Getty Images
That also means Verstappen finishes the year with the most poles of any driver:
Verstappen - 8
Norris - 7
Piastri - 6
Russell - 2
Leclerc - 1
Max Verstappen is on pole for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, beating runner-up Lando Norris by 0.201s - sublime pace from the Red Bull driver, who even improved on his second lap without a tow.
Oscar Piastri is third but, I'm sure to Max's dismay, George Russell is only fourth. As it stands, Norris is world champion.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Two sectors down and neither McLaren driver is faster than Max...
Looks like there won't be any tow with Max going out before Tsunoda. Russell is eyeing one up from the world champion though and maybe Max will willingly give him one if it means getting the Mercedes man above Norris...
So it's Verstappen on provisional pole while team-mate Tsunoda is 10th. One does wonder what Red Bull does with Yuki in these final runs. Is it worth making him do a proper lap, or just give Max another tow?
Piastri splits the pair but Russell only manages fifth. Good job by Verstappen, but he needs more help from his rivals to push Norris down.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
It allows the four-time champion to set a 1m22.295s and it is four tenths quicker than Norris. Wow!
Though it must be said Lando was on used softs with Verstappen on fresh.
Tsunoda gives Verstappen a tow in sector two. Think that was planned don't you?
Here we are, the final quali session of the year and it's actually looking too close to call right now!
Antonelli had complaints about the rear but everything was clearly fine for team-mate Russell, who topped the session.
Verstappen was just 0.022s behind with Norris 0.074s off top!
George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Mark Thompson / Getty Images
But that is Q2 now done and the bottom five is as follows:
11. Bearman
12. Sainz
13. Lawson
14. Antonelli
15. Stroll
Piastri was quickest in Q1 but he's survived a Q2 scare finishing just eighth and less than a tenth above the drop zone!
Quite a busy end to the session this and looks like Leclerc has now removed himself from danger, climbing up to a provisional fifth from 10th.
Well that's a busy pitlane! Everybody queuing up to get a final lap completed in these last four minutes.
Mercedes is looking good, but don't think Red Bull can rely on Ferrari to get in front of McLaren with Hamilton out in Q1 and Leclerc only 10th. The Scuderia didn't have a great FP3 either and Charles said the only positive of Friday was sharing the track with his brother Arthur.
Norris is loving that final sector because quite a few times now it's turned a good lap into a very good one. He's currently third and 0.074s off top with the fastest sector three time.
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photo by: Clive Mason / Getty Images
Not sure that's the record Hamilton had in mind when he joined Ferrari!
Stat time!
Hulkenberg's Q1 exit means him and team-mate Bortoleto will finish the year 15-15 for qualifying sessions in 2025. This is 12-12 without sprint weekends.
Absolute level pecking.
He's a lonely man out there as Verstappen is the only driver on track. Come on everyone, it's already started...
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Mark Thompson / Getty Images
Quick turnaround: we're back for Q2 and Verstappen is first out.
But that's that for Q1 with Hamilton, Albon, Hulkenberg, Gasly and Colapinto all being eliminated.
Celebrations for Piastri though, as he was close to three tenths quickest with Verstappen second and Antonelli in third. Norris sixth.
"Every time mate, I'm so sorry," was Hamilton's reaction.
But here is a shock, well it would have been a year ago, as Lewis Hamilton suffers a Q1 exit for the third consecutive race.
The winter break cannot come quick enough for the seven-time champion...
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Mark Thompson / Getty Images
Colapinto also puts in a lap not good enough so it's a double Alpine Q1 elimination - pretend to be shocked!
Speaking of the bottom five, Gasly improves but not by much so he is out.
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Wasn't the best lap for Lando though, as the championship leader has since dropped to fifth. But quite frankly, who cares? It's only Q1 and what matters is the bottom five.
Whether it was or not is another matter, but it's done the trick as McLaren goes 1-2. Big advantage to Piastri as well!
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photo by: Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
New softs for both McLaren cars - was that really needed?
Just five minutes remain in Q1 and cars are coming back out for their final runs. It's certainly a close grid with the top 18 within eight tenths of each other.
Well, Bearman's Haas is looking good because Ocon is currently in the dropzone.
Albon, Leclerc, Gasly and Colapinto are the others in the bottom five with Leclerc and Gasly having used the mediums. Seems a bit of a strange choice that one.
We mentioned earlier that Hamilton also started on the mediums, but he's since switched to softs and is fifth.
Go on Bearman! That Haas is looking good today with the rookie currently second in Q1 after finishing seventh, one spot behind team-mate Ocon, in FP3.
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Back to the action, interesting choice of tyre for Hamilton and Gasly as both are on mediums with the rest on softs. Looks like they're hoping to save a fresh set of the red-stripped rubber.
So the pole position award will be presented by Benson Boone. Right, time for Google to come in handy...
Never fear Hamilton fans, as he's out on track for Q1 with his car having recovered from his FP3 crash.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari crash
Photo by: Mark Thompson / Getty Images
By: Ed Hardy
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