In Abu Dhabi, the qualifiers produced a compelling mix of performances, with Red Bull asserting itself at the front and several midfield battles intensifying the outlook for the race. The team’s overnight updates to the RB21 clearly paid off for Max Verstappen, who emerged as the pole sitter after a dominant Q3. He benefited from a tow early in the session and then raised the pace on his final run, even without the extra help. Teammate Yuki Tsunoda helped Verstappen reach Q3 by providing a tow in the earlier phases, though his own Q3 effort ended outside the top positions due to a crash-related floor damage earlier in the day. The result leaves Verstappen starting from pole with Lando Norris in close pursuit on second. Red Bull’s strategic preparation and quicker pace give them the upper hand, but the championship still hinges on tomorrow’s race dynamics and luck.
Max Verstappen, pole position, 1:22.207
Verstappen described qualifying as “simply lovely” and credited steady improvements across practice and final setup tweaks that unlocked extra pace. He acknowledged Norris’ late pressure but emphasized the key tomorrow is converting pace into a solid race result and potentially the title, depending on how luck and strategy unfold. He highlighted the value of the tow from Yuki and expressed a measured optimism about maintaining pace in the race, while also noting that Abu Dhabi’s magic could influence the outcome.
Yuki Tsunoda, 10th, no time in Q3
Tsunoda explained that an FP3 pit-lane incident forced a return to an older floor, which hindered performance and complicated progress into Q3. He remained focused on supporting Verstappen and contributing to the team’s championship bid, even if the strategy for a one-lap sprint might be more challenging from the back half of the top ten.
Laurent Mekies, Team Principal
Mekies praised the collective effort that allowed both cars into Q3, noting Max’s speed on both runs and Yuki’s solid opening lap with a tow. He emphasized the lack of points on Saturday but highlighted the opportunity created for tomorrow, stressing the importance of maximizing performance and protecting the lead in the championship fight.
McLaren
McLaren demonstrated strong performance in Abu Dhabi, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris closing the gap to Verstappen and pushing for pole in Q3. Norris secured P2 but was unable to match Verstappen’s pace on the final runs, while Piastri finished third, indicating a competitive race pace for the team. The car’s long-run performance also appeared promising, keeping McLaren in the championship picture as the weekend progressed.
Lando Norris, 2nd, 1:22.408
Norris felt the team extracted everything possible from the car, acknowledging the gap to pole but remaining optimistic about a strong race. He reaffirmed the goal of winning the race tomorrow, keeping the title defense alive through strategy and execution.
Oscar Piastri, 3rd, 1:22.437
Piastri said the team maximized their package in qualifying, impressed by their Q3 laps, and noted that Verstappen’s pace was simply stronger. He signaled confidence in their long-run race pace and stressed focusing on delivering the best possible performance in the race.
Andrea Stella, Team Principal
Stella highlighted the close, balanced nature of qualifying and praised the drivers for extracting the maximum from a tight session. He framed tomorrow as a genuine opportunity to contend for the championship and underscored McLaren’s commitment to a bold performance at Yas Marina, acknowledging the strength of rivals to the left and right on the grid.
Mercedes
Mercedes faced a tougher session, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli navigating a demanding qualifying day. Russell showed competitive pace, topping FP3 before struggled in Q3 with rear-end stability, while Antonelli was eliminated in Q2 after a difficult day that included an FP3 incident albeit with later rebound. The team recognized the challenges but remained hopeful of points on race day.
George Russell, 4th, 1:22.645
Russell pointed to Verstappen and the two McLarens as the pace-setting contenders, noting that Q3 didn’t go as smoothly as hoped and that the fight for front row was already decided. He emphasized the need to optimize strategy and maximize opportunities tomorrow to secure a strong result in the Constructors’ standings, especially with two title contenders ahead.
Kimi Antonelli, 14th, 1:23.080
Antonelli reflected on a strong Q1 showing but a tougher Q2, lamenting the missed chance to reach Q3 due to a narrow margin. He focused on bouncing back in the race and contributing to a points-filled finish for the team.
Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
Wolff admitted qualifying didn’t go as planned, noting the car’s delicate balance and the small gaps between cars amplified any mistake. He expressed confidence in Russell’s ability to compete tomorrow and hoped for opportunities to move up the grid, while acknowledging the challenge of reclaiming positions from higher up.
Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director
Shovlin described the session as disappointing given earlier pace, with balancing issues affecting Kimi in Q3 and limiting opportunities for George. He stressed focusing on a strong race performance to secure points and bolster the Constructors’ bid, while remaining aware of the stiff competition around.
Ferrari
Ferrari’s day mixed fortunes, with Charles Leclerc delivering a strong Q3 performance after overnight setup changes that improved the car’s balance, landing P5. Lewis Hamilton endured a difficult day, plagued by a spin in FP3 and a late mistake in Q3 that halted momentum, leaving him with a rare Q1 exit. The team aimed to translate the changes into a robust race pace, mindful of the challenge posed by the pace of rivals.
Charles Leclerc, 5th, 1:22.730
Leclerc expressed satisfaction with the improvements that allowed him to extract a solid lap and was cautious about chasing more, given faster cars ahead. He planned to leverage the start to gain positions and hoped the updated setup would yield a competitive race pace, aiming for a podium to cap the season.
Lewis Hamilton, 16th, 1:23.394
Hamilton acknowledged the result wasn’t what the team wanted and credited the rapid recovery from FP3 to get the car into qualifying shape. He vowed to deliver a stronger performance in the race, leveraging track knowledge to maximize points.
Fred Vasseur, Team Principal
Vasseur assessed Ferrari’s day as generally positive for Leclerc after the overnight changes but recognized the broader challenge of matching the top pace. He attributed Hamilton’s difficulties to the disrupted practice schedule and emphasized the need to optimize race pace over raw single-lap speed, aiming to end the season on a high note.
Aston Martin
Aston Martin benefited from substantial overnight changes and delivered a strong performance, with Fernando Alonso challenging for the front group and advancing to Q3 for a third consecutive race. Lance Stroll, while competitive, fell short of Q3.
Fernando Alonso, 6th, 1:22.902
Alonso expressed genuine satisfaction with the improved balance and pace, noting the overnight setup changes did their job. He aimed to maintain momentum into the race, seeking valuable points at the final event of the season.
Lance Stroll, 15th, 1:23.097
Stroll attributed the near-miss for Q3 to a small mistake on Turn 14 during his final push. He emphasized that the margin in such a tight session is tiny and that the effort was strong, leaving room for a positive race if strategy plays out.
Mike Krack, Chief Trackside Officer
Krack called qualifying extremely close and praised Alonso’s Q3 performance while acknowledging Stroll’s near-miss. He framed the result as a platform to score points in the season finale, stressing the team’s intent to seize every opportunity.
Kick Sauber
Kick Sauber continued to impress, with Gabriel Bortoleto delivering a standout qualifying performance and Nico Hulkenberg narrowly missing Q3. Bortoleto secured P7, signaling a strong end to the rookie season, while Hulkenberg’s Q2 form kept him in range for a points-scoring aim.
Nico Hulkenberg, 18th, 1:23.450
Hulkenberg expressed frustration at a missed opportunity caused by timing and traffic, lamenting the late-out plan and crowded track that hampered his laps. He remained bullish about tomorrow’s race, acknowledging the challenge of overtaking in this generation of cars but intent on making progress from the back.
Gabriel Bortoleto, 7th, 1:22.904
Bortoleto celebrated a breakthrough day, praising the tight session and the balance that allowed him to convert a near-miss in Q1 into a strong Q2 and Q3. He aimed to convert the grid position into points and finish the season on a high note, working to hold his place at the start and press forward.
Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal
Wheatley apologized to Hulkenberg for the timing miscue that affected Q3 progression, but commended Bortoleto for an excellent performance. He outlined goals to maximize both cars’ points and to push for a strong finish against rival teams, acknowledging the tougher competition ahead.
Haas
Haas leaned on Esteban Ocon’s late surge into Q3 experience to contrast with Bearman’s Q1 and Q2 progress. Ocon’s evolving pace helped him reach Q3, while Bearman fell just outside the top ten, leaving Haas with a window of points opportunities in a tight midfield.
Esteban Ocon, 8th, 1:22.913
Ocon celebrated a major improvement after a difficult day, praising the overnight changes that transformed the car’s behavior. He recognized the chance to score points tomorrow and highlighted the team’s unity as a key factor in overcoming the day’s earlier struggles.
Oliver Bearman, 11th, 1:23.041
Bearman conceded a small miscalculation and a change from a used first-run set to a fresh second set that hurt his lap. He remained confident in the car’s pace and anticipated race opportunities, stressing a focus on a solid start and race execution.
Racing Bulls
Racing Bulls entered Abu Dhabi with a mix of optimism and challenge, thanks to strong practice and a resilient performance in qualifying. Isack Hadjar reached Q3 with a ninth-place finish, while Liam Lawson faced a tighter margin, missing out on Q3 by a slim gap. The team emphasized the need for strategic planning to maximize points in the final race, with an eye on both drivers’ potential to challenge mid-pack rivals.
Isack Hadjar, 9th, 1:23.072
Hadjar expressed satisfaction with a strong qualifying performance compared to previous sessions, noting a step forward in driving and consistency. He emphasized that Q3 ultimately demanded more grip than he could extract on that lap, but remained confident about a one-stop race plan and scoring chances tomorrow.
Liam Lawson, 13th, 1:23.077
Lawson acknowledged some over-cautious decisions in Q1 that cost critical grip for Q2, leaving him short of a Q3 appearance. He reflected on the data gathered since Friday and pledged to learn from the session to improve for next year.
Dezoteux, Head of Vehicle Performance
Dezoteux highlighted the tightness of qualifying and the delicate balance required to progress. He noted the margin between Q2 and Q3 was razor-thin and praised Hadjar’s late-lap performance while acknowledging Lawson’s missed opportunity. He stressed the importance of tyre management for tomorrow’s run and vowed to push for a strong result.
Williams
Williams faced a tougher day than in Qatar, with Albon and Sainz both missing out in Q1 and Q2 respectively as midfield margins compressed. With fifth in the standings already secured, the team could approach the race with less pressure, aiming for strong showings rather than a title fight.
Alex Albon, 17th, 1:23.416
Albon cited a tricky session with tyre windowing and track traffic as the main hurdles, noting that every millisecond counted in such a tight field. He anticipated a strategy-driven race and the possibility of opportunistic moves to salvage a good result tomorrow.
Carlos Sainz, 12th, 1:23.042
Sainz reported a step forward from practice and described a nail-biting Q2 where only a few thousandths separated many drivers. He remained hopeful about fights for points and finishing the season strongly, anticipating a strategic two-stop or one-stop mix depending on how the race unfolds.
Alpine
Alpine endured a difficult outing, with both cars eliminated in Q1. The team faced a back-row start as they faced penalties for track limits violations in the session, marking a tough end to a challenging season.
Pierre Gasly, 19th, 1:23.468
Gasly admitted overnight improvements hadn’t fully translated to race pace, underscoring that Abu Dhabi’s qualifying demands were exceptionally tight. He emphasized the significance of tomorrow’s final race and the upcoming changes in personnel as the season closes.
Franco Colapinto, 20th, 1:23.890
Colapinto acknowledged the continued struggles and the impact of track-limit penalties on his final lap. He stressed the need to understand the car’s behavior and maximize performance in the last race, especially as the team prepares for Viry’s farewell.
Pirelli
Mario Isola, Motorsport Director
Isola congratulated Verstappen on pole and observed that several drivers held newer soft compounds for the final laps in Q3, despite evidence that used soft tires could still perform after cooldown. He outlined race strategies, noting that two-stop plans appeared less competitive given overtaking challenges at Yas Marina. The recommended pathways include starting on medium or hard, with strategic stops to optimize the final stint on medium tires. He also commented on track evolution and anticipated improved tire management ahead of the race, while acknowledging that graining remained unclear from the brief runs. Overall, the tyre picture suggested a one-stop solution could be viable, with careful management shaping the outcome.
