Abu Dhabi GP F1 Qualifying: Winners and Losers
Max Verstappen clinched pole in Abu Dhabi GP F1 qualifying, solidifying his championship bid, while Lando Norris secured second, strategically positioned for the final race. Oscar Piastri and Lewis Hamilton faced significant setbacks, diminishing their title and performance hopes, respectively. Unexpected winners included Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon, showcasing strong individual performances, while Alpine and Nico Hulkenberg struggled, highlighting a challenging end to their qualifying sessions.
The final qualifying session of the 2025 F1 season in Abu Dhabi delivered both thrilling performances and significant disappointments, with Max Verstappen securing pole position amidst a tight championship battle. While some drivers cemented their strong season runs, others faced a challenging end to their qualifying campaigns.
Why it matters:
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying session is crucial as it sets the stage for the final race of the 2025 F1 season, which will determine the world champion. Strong performances here can significantly boost title contenders, while poor showings can all but end their hopes. The session also offers a final opportunity for drivers and teams to showcase their progress and carry momentum into the off-season, impacting team morale and future prospects.
The Details:
- Max Verstappen (Winner - 1st): Despite a "ropey" Red Bull for much of the year, Verstappen's driving has been exceptional. Securing pole in the decider not only keeps him in the hunt after McLaren's strong practice pace but also reinforces his claim as the most deserving champion of 2025.
- Oscar Piastri (Loser - 3rd): Piastri's title chances, already slim, diminished further by qualifying third behind both Verstappen and Norris. Despite topping Q1, he felt third was the best the car could offer, meaning he now needs a miracle on Sunday for the championship.
- Lando Norris (Winner - 2nd): Norris avoided misfortune in Q1 and Q2, delivering a strong Q3 lap to secure second place. While not a pole, his position on the inside line for Turn 1 offers protection from first-lap incidents, a strategic advantage for his title bid.
- Lewis Hamilton (Loser - 16th): For the fourth consecutive qualifying session (three GPs, one Sprint), Hamilton failed to advance past Q1, expressing "a lot of anger." This poor run highlights a significant performance gap to his teammate Charles Leclerc, who consistently made Q3 despite Ferrari's struggles. Hamilton now faces a three-tenths deficit to overcome.
- Fernando Alonso (Winner - 6th): Alonso showcased consistent qualifying excellence, maintaining a 29-1 head-to-head advantage over teammate Lance Stroll in 2025. At 44, his performance continues to defy age, demonstrating machine-like dependability.
- Esteban Ocon (Winner - 8th): After a challenging Friday, Ocon bounced back strongly, securing eighth place. Haas made significant changes to his car, allowing him to regain control and build positive momentum going into the winter despite the mysterious nature of the turnaround.
- Kimi Antonelli (Loser - 14th): While Antonelli's rookie season has had its highs (like Miami sprint pole), his 14th place in the finale was disappointing. He cited weird tire performance, but other drivers navigated similar conditions to reach Q3. His performance trailed teammate George Russell by 0.350 seconds.
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Winner - 7th): Bortoleto broke a streak of six consecutive qualifying defeats to teammate Nico Hulkenberg, securing his first Q3 appearance since Monza. He narrowly missed out-qualifying Fernando Alonso and placed ahead of Ocon's Haas, giving Sauber a fighting chance in the constructors' championship.
- Alpine (Loser - 19th and 20th): Alpine was the weakest team in qualifying, with Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto finishing 19th and 20th, respectively. This marks the first time this year both Alpine drivers qualified as the slowest, with Colapinto being four-tenths slower than Gasly, continuing his end-of-season slump.
- Nico Hulkenberg (Loser - 18th): Hulkenberg's first Q1 exit since Baku, placing 18th, was his worst qualifying result in the second half of the season. He blamed traffic in Q1, particularly at Turn 6, which cost him enough time to miss Q2 in a tightly contested session.
What's next:
The results of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying set the grid for Sunday's championship-deciding race. All eyes will be on Max Verstappen and Lando Norris as they battle for the title from the front row. For the 'losers' of qualifying, Sunday will be a race for damage limitation and a final push for points to end the season on a slightly higher note. Teams like Alpine and Sauber will be fighting to improve their constructor standings, while drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli will look to bounce back and demonstrate their true pace for the final time in 2025, aiming for a stronger start to 2026.