Verstappen takes Abu Dhabi GP pole ahead of Norris and Piastri

This is it, then. Well, almost. The penultimate day of the 2025 Formula One world championship. Three men go into this race knowing that they could be champion by Sunday evening, but only one of them will be. Will Max Verstappen claim a fifth drivers’ title in a row? Or will we see a new name on the trophy with one of Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri, McLaren team-mates. 

Norris, clearly, is the most likely candidate to claim the crown. He leads Verstappen by 12 points and Piastri by 16. Finishing third tomorrow will be enough to see him take the title. Given the pace of the McLaren and the decent run of form that Norris is in, you would think that should be fairly straightforward. 

Championship deciders are not always that easy, though. One small mistake in Q3, could put him on the third row, for example. And then at the race start you are a slight hostage to fortune. Piastri, remember, was spun around by Verstappen at the start of the race last year. Norris, of course, will not be trying to be conservative. Within his hands he has the ability to get pole and that makes his life a lot easier. He topped both practice sessions yesterday, too, so has started the weekend well. 

As for Verstappen and Piastri? Well, they have to drive the wheels of their cars and hope that Norris or his McLaren team somehow falters. That is not out of the equation. 

Anyway, final practice begins in about 45 minutes and we will be here for all of the updates from that before a crucial qualifying session later today at 2pm.