F1 2025: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Qualifying Recap: Max Verstappen takes pole position for season final from both McLarens

When it mattered most, Max Verstappen put in an incredible lap to steal pole position from the two McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025. Verstappen starts ahead of both his championship rivals for one last time in the Formula One 2025 season and the Red Bull driver is on the hunt for his fifth world title. Lando Norris’ P2 start gives him the advantage though as even a podium finish in the main race would secure a maiden Drivers’ Title for him. 

If you missed the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying, here’s a quick recap.

Q1 – No end to Hamilton’s miseries

After suffering a big crash in Free Practice 3, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton was the first car out on the track, with the seven-time world champion looking to get some laps in before the track filled up. Hamilton’s first time saw him put up a 1:24.068s, before Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll went quicker with a 1:12.772s. Max Verstappen was the first of the front runners and the three championship contenders to get on the track and the Red Bull drivers’ opening time of 1:23.325s saw him go to the top of the table, a tenth quicker than Sauber Nico Hülkenberg. 

Fernando Alonso’s first time saw him go 0.092s behind Verstappen and the veteran Spaniard kept Lando Norris at bay, with Norris being 0.105s slower than Verstappen. Ollie Bearman’s 1:23.75s saw the Haas go P1 with Piastri’s first time seeing him go 0.001s behind Bearman. After the first round of laps, it was George Russell who was quickest with Ollie Bearman, Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen in the top four. As the clock ticked down to the chequered flag, Piastri, Verstappen, Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc all improved with Piastri putting in a stunning 1:22.605s. The five who missed out to make it to Q2 were Lewis Hamilton, Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, Nico Hülkenberg and Franco Colapinto.Hamilton was the big name out in Q1 with the veteran British driver failing to make it out of Q1 for three consecutive races and missed Q2 in Abu Dhabi by 0.008s. 

Drivers eliminated in Q1:

Lewis Hamilton
Alex Albon
Nico Hülkenberg
Pierre Gasly
Franco Colapinto

Q2 – Antonelli misses out while Tsunoda pushes to help his teammate

Verstappen was the first car out on the track in Q2 and his 1:22.912s set the benchmark for the remainder of the grid. Russell went quickest early on once again with the Mercedes drivers’ 1:22.730s saw him pip Verstappen for P1. Fernando Alonso continued his strong weekend, slotting in at P5 behind Norris, Verstappen and Piastri. 

As the final runs started, both Racing Bulls, Yuki Tsunoda, Kimi Antonelli and Ollie Bearman were in the drop zone. Tsunoda got himself out of the bottom five as did Isack Hadjar. Carlos Sainz and Lance Stroll ended up dropping to the bottom five and missed out on Q3 along with Ollie Bearman, Liam Lawson and Kimi Antonelli. It was an extremely close session which saw Bearman and Sainz finish P11 and P12 respectively and were 0.007s and 0.008s off the cutoff mark with Piastri also squeezing through being 0.076s quicker than Lanco Stroll in P15. 

Drivers eliminated in Q2:

Ollie Bearman 
Carlos Sainz
Liam Lawson
Kimi Antonelli
Lance Stroll

Q3 – Verstappen untouchable as Norris finishes ahead of Piastri

Verstappen once again set the time for the rest of the grid and it was a 1:22.295s from the Dutchman to get Q3 underway and Lando Norris’ opening time was almost half a second slower. Piastri was also unable to match Verstappen with the Australian slotting in at P2, 0.327s behind. As the final runs came in, the times fell with the teams playing the team game to give each other the tow to go even quicker. 

Verstappen went even quicker as he stormed to pole position with a flying 1:22.295s to secure his fifth pole position at Abu Dhabi. Norris and Piastri were both unable to catch Verstappen with Norris finishing P2, 0.201s behind Verstappen while Piastri was 0.230s slower than Verstappen in P3.

Starting grid for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025 (before penalties applied):

1. Max Verstappen
2. Lando Norris
3. Oscar Piastri
4. George Russell
5. Charles Leclerc
6. Fernando Alonso
7. Gabriel Bortoleto
8. Esteban Ocon
9. Isack Hadjar 
10. Yuki Tsunoda
11. Ollie Bearman 
12. Carlos Sainz
13. Liam Lawson
14. Kimi Antonelli
15. Lance Stroll
16. Lewis Hamilton
17. Alex Albon
18. Nico Hülkenberg
19. Pierre Gasly
20. Franco Colapinto