Title hopefuls Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri go for pole position ahead of the all-important 2025 F1 season finale in Abu Dhabi... with Verstappen coming out on top at the Yas Marina Circuit
So that's that - forget Christmas, there is just one more sleep until the biggest day of the year - the 2025 F1 Title Showdown
It's advantage Verstappen in Abu Dhabi, but second for Norris puts him right in the midst of what he needs to be champion.
But as Verstappen knows all too well, the story isn't over until the chequered flag falls
Be sure to join us for LIVE updates throughout what will be a fascinating finale!
| 2025 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Qualifying Results | ||||||
| Pos | Driver | Nat. | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
| 1 | Max Verstappen | NED | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 1m22.877s | 1m22.752s | 1m22.207s |
| 2 | Lando Norris | GBR | McLaren F1 Team | 1m23.178s | 1m22.804s | 1m22.408s |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | AUS | McLaren F1 Team | 1m22.605s | 1m23.021s | 1m22.437s |
| 4 | George Russell | GBR | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team | 1m23.247s | 1m22.730s | 1m22.645s |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | MON | Scuderia Ferrari HP | 1m23.163s | 1m22.948s | 1m22.730s |
| 6 | Fernando Alonso | ESP | Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team | 1m23.071s | 1m22.861s | 1m22.902s |
| 7 | Gabriel Bortoleto | BRA | Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber | 1m23.386s | 1m22.874s | 1m22.904s |
| 8 | Esteban Ocon | FRA | MoneyGram Haas F1 Team | 1m23.334s | 1m23.023s | 1m22.913s |
| 9 | Isack Hadjar | FRA | Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team | 1m23.373s | 1m22.997s | 1m23.072s |
| 10 | Yuki Tsunoda | JPN | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 1m23.386s | 1m23.034s | No time set |
| 11 | Oliver Bearman | GBR | MoneyGram Haas F1 Team | 1m23.254s | 1m23.041s | |
| 12 | Carlos Sainz | ESP | Atlassian Williams Racing | 1m23.187s | 1m23.042s | |
| 13 | Liam Lawson | NZL | Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team | 1m23.265s | 1m23.077s | |
| 14 | Kimi Antonelli | ITA | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team | 1m22.894s | 1m23.080s | |
| 15 | Lance Stroll | CAN | Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team | 1m23.316s | 1m23.097s | |
| 16 | Lewis Hamilton | GBR | Scuderia Ferrari HP | 1m23.394s | ||
| 17 | Alex Albon | THA | Atlassian Williams Racing | 1m23.416s | ||
| 18 | Nico Hulkenberg | GER | Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber | 1m23.450s | ||
| 19 | Pierre Gasly | FRA | BWT Alpine F1 Team | 1m23.468s | ||
| 20 | Franco Colapinto | ARG | BWT Alpine F1 Team | 1m23.890s | ||
"I think it was pretty good, the lap I did in Q1, it was nice to get into a rhythm on the weekend and honestly I think the last lap in Q3 was pretty good as well, there wasn't a whole lot left in that. Not quite quick enough today, but it sets up an exciting day tomorrow.
On race pace - "We'll find out tomorrow, Max has looked quick in the long runs and clearly quick over one lap. But let's see how the pace is tomorrow."
"It's tough, Max did a good job, so congrats to him. We did everything we could, I think my lap was pretty good, I was pretty happy. Disappointed to not be on pole for the final weekend, but we weren't fast enough today, so we'll just have to try do it tomorrow.
On focusing solely on the podium to win the title - "I don't know, the time will come to think of that, but for now I'm disappointed to not be on pole - but I still want to win tomorrow, that will be the goal."
"In Q2 I stayed on scrubbed tyres and those laps felt decent, so then in Q3 on new tyres, the lap time is coming down, so you can push a bit more and that is what we did. Incredibly happy to be in first, that is the only thing we can do, the thing we can control.
On track changes: "You have to try and guess a bit how the track will improve when it cools down, but you're never 100% sure it will work. I do think that what we changed definitely helped me a little more to feel better in qualifying."
So Verstappen does what Verstappen does best by pulling something special out of the bag when it matters.
The Dutchman has been exemplary in these latter stages and really shone the moment he needs to.
The big focus at McLaren though will be Norris in second - could McLaren remove all doubt by ordering Piastri to stay behind Norris if they stay in those positions off the start tomorrow?
It's a conversation that won't be easy to have, but will it be necessary to counter Verstappen once and for all?
Despite his best efforts to get towed around by Verstappen, Russell can't make a dint in the top three and he will instead get away from fourth
Leclerc - as he so often does - wrestles his Ferrari into the top five while his team-mate wilts down in 16th.
Alonso improved with his second lap to secure another strong qualifying effort for Aston Martin in sixth, while Bortoleto stars en route to seventh for Sauber.
Great effort by Ocon in eighth, having been out-performed by rookie team-mate Bearman of late, while Hadjar is ninth, ahead of the man he is replacing at Red Bull Racing next season, Tsunoda.
1- Verstappen
2- Norris
3- Piastri
4- Russell
5- Leclerc
6- Alonso
7- Bortoleto
8- Ocon
9- Hadjar
10- Tsunoda
Another big lap for Max Verstappen as he goes quicker again to spoil McLaren's best hopes
However, Norris crucially got the better of Piastri with his final lap, earning him a front row start
Piastri will get away from third place, you couldn't plot it any better
Piastri can't go quicker and holds position behind Verstappen
Norris can't beat Verstappen either but snatches second from Piastri
Verstappen lowers his best time anyway and he takes pole
Verstappen sets a purple in Sector 1 - Piastri and Norris can't match him
Piastri is the first of the title contenders to go...
Verstappen and Russell leave it latest to go out on track for their final laps - two mins to go to decide this absolutely crucial grid
McLaren have a bit of a head-scratcher coming into their final laps.
They will have shiny soft tyres at their disposal but there is a full three and four tenths respectively for Piastri and Norris to make up.
Still lots of time to go, but shout out to Bortoleto, who has powered into Q3 and is giving a great show of himself with the sixth fastest time
A great way to end his rookie season and potentially a lovely send off for the Sauber name
First wave of laps complete
1- Verstappen
2- Piastri
3- Norris
4- Leclerc
5- Russell
6- Bortoleto
7- Alonso
8- Hadjar
9- Ocon
10- Tsunoda
6mins to go
Piastri is next through and he moves up into second place, just over three tenths off Verstappen.
Russell can only manage fifth, behind Leclerc after just keeping it out of the wall at Turn 14
Norris slots into second place, half a second down, but on slightly used soft tyres
A 1m 22.295s for Verstappen - the fastest lap of the day
Verstappen, Russell and Leclerc are the drivers taking two new sets of tyres into Q3.
So the best from Piastri and Norris may not come until the second wave of laps.
Verstappen is the first go on the softs in this first wave...
The final Q3 session of the 2025 F1 season is underway
Who will start the title showdown from pole?
Lewis Hamilton is the man of very few words as he talks to Sky F1... we say talk, he answers two questions with a nod and that's that.
Want to know how fine the margins are in F1?
Yuki Tsunoda avoids track limits by nothing larger than a fag paper - it's crucial too, he makes it though to Q3 for the first time since Baku via the fastest Sector 2 of anyone in that session
A fascinating 12 minutes ahead as the three title hopefuls duke it out for pole position
They won't be the only drivers in the mix with Russell a definite factor, while Alonso has been knocking on the door of the top four, while you can never discount Leclerc either
It's worth pointing out that each of the last 10 Abu Dhabi GPs have been won from the front of the grid...
Russell quickest in Q2 from Verstappen and Norris
Here's the 10 drivers that will challenge for Abu Dhabi GP pole
Russell
Norris
Verstappen
Piastri
Tsunoda
Bortoleto
Hadjar
Leclerc
Alonso
Ocon
