Breaking: F1 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Starting Grid with Penalties ap…read more

2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Qualifying Report

The final qualifying session of the 2025 Formula 1 season delivered a gripping showdown at the Yas Marina Circuit, where championship tension, raw pace, and high-stakes strategy blended into an electrifying evening under the lights. With three drivers still mathematically in contention for the title, every lap carried weight — and Max Verstappen rose to the occasion with a dominant pole position.

The Red Bull driver delivered a stunning lap of 1:22.207, stamping authority at the most crucial moment of the season. Verstappen looked in control throughout all three qualifying segments, extracting the maximum from his car when it mattered most. The pole gives him the ideal starting spot for Sunday’s title-deciding race and puts pressure directly on his rivals.

Lando Norris, leading the championship coming into Abu Dhabi, pushed hard but ultimately fell two-tenths short. His lap of 1:22.408 secured second on the grid. While missing pole was a disappointment, starting ahead of his closest title challengers remains a strategic advantage. A podium finish is all Norris needs to seal the championship — and starting from the front row places him in a strong position to defend his lead.

Oscar Piastri, the third contender in this dramatic finale, clocked a 1:22.437, locking in third place and completing a top three made entirely of championship rivals. McLaren showed excellent pace throughout qualifying, with both drivers demonstrating consistency and confidence. Piastri will need a perfect race to keep his title hopes alive, but starting right behind Verstappen and Norris gives him a realistic shot at influencing the fight.

George Russell continued his strong end-of-season form with a 1:22.645, securing fourth for Mercedes. Russell has been one of the most impressive qualifiers of the second half of the season, often outperforming the expectations placed on Mercedes. Just behind him, Charles Leclerc’s 1:22.730 earned fifth for Ferrari. While Ferrari may not be fighting for the title, Leclerc’s pace remains one of their biggest strengths.

Further down the order, Fernando Alonso put his Aston Martin sixth with a 1:22.902, narrowly ahead of the highly impressive Gabriel Bortoleto, who took seventh with a 1:22.904 for Stake F1. The Brazilian rookie continues to amaze in his debut year, and another top-ten qualifying performance solidifies his reputation as one of the brightest new talents on the grid.

Esteban Ocon and Isack Hadjar followed in eighth (1:22.913) and ninth (1:23.072) respectively, showcasing the upward trajectory of both Haas and Racing Bulls. Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the top ten on what is expected to be his final full-time Formula 1 race weekend.

One of the biggest shockers was Lewis Hamilton’s early exit — the seven-time world champion suffered a third consecutive Q1 elimination after managing only 1:23.394, leaving him 16th on the grid. Ferrari’s qualifying struggles this season have been a persistent storyline, and Hamilton’s grid position once again leaves him with a mountain to climb on race day.

Behind him, Alexander Albon, Nico Hülkenberg, Pierre Gasly, and Franco Colapinto filled the lower grid positions, each unable to find the pace needed to progress into the later qualifying stages.

With the top three championship rivals occupying the top three positions on the grid, the stage is perfectly set for a dramatic, season-defining Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Race strategy, tyre management, and the opening-lap battle may decide which of the three drivers walks away as the 2025 Formula 1 world champion.

Full Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying Results – Table Format