In the Abu Dhabi GP qualifying, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen provided a business as usual performance, securing pole position with a blistering lap time of 1m 23.445s. The reigning champ bounced back from setup struggles in free practice, leaving Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc trailing in second.
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The drama unfolded as McLaren’s Oscar Piastri capitalised on Lando Norris’s mistake, claiming a surprising third place. Meanwhile, the exits of Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton in Q1 and Q2 added unexpected twists to the showdown.
Quali 1
Q1 delivered a major shock as Carlos Sainz, recovering from a previous crash, bowed out in 16th place. Kevin Magnussen’s Haas claimed 17th, while Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu struggled in 18th and 19th. Williams’ Logan Sargeant faced disappointment, finishing at the bottom due to deleted lap times for track limit violations.
Quali 2
The Q2 showdown saw Russell’s impressive progress, leaving Hamilton questioning his car’s performance in 11th place. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll followed closely, rounding out the top 13.
Alex Albon’s early promise faded in Q2, with Williams facing increased competition. The former Red Bull driver settled for 14th place, narrowly ahead of Daniel Ricciardo’s Alpha Tauri.
Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying: Quali 3
Despite Verstappen’s dominance, Charles Leclerc led the Ferrari charge in the absence of teammate Sainz, who blamed traffic for his early exit. George Russell represented Mercedes in the top ten shootout after Hamilton’s unexpected elimination, securing fourth place.
In the battle for grid positions, Yuki Tsunoda’s Alpha Tauri soared to sixth place, while Fernando Alonso showcased his skill, securing seventh for Aston Martin.
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The Abu Dhabi GP is the final race of the season. With Max Verstappen in pole position, it sets the stage for him to complete a truly dominating season finishing with a potential 19 wins. But unexpected exits and underdog performances will be hoping to add to the excitement.
Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying Results
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