The stage is ready for a probably enthralling Components 1 title decider with every championship contender beginning within the prime three for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Max Verstappen is on pole, championship chief Lando Norris joins him on the entrance row whereas third-placed Oscar Piastri strains up third.
It was inevitable that it could occur this manner and it in all probability fits Norris probably the most, contemplating all he wants is a podium to clinch his maiden title. However the grid is tight, lower than a second separated the vehicles in Q3, and there may be at all times the potential for someone to return in and trigger havoc which is the very last thing McLaren wants.
The person more than likely to take action is George Russell, who will be a part of Piastri on the second row and the Mercedes driver was even pushing Purple Bull to provide him a tow in Q3 as a result of he is aware of Verstappen wants all the skin assist he can get to win a fifth championship.
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Russell has additionally been extremely spectacular in 2025, arguably the very best driver behind Verstappen, maximising probably the most out of his Mercedes with wins in Canada and Singapore. He even thinks there “could possibly be a chance” so as to add a 3rd victory to his 2025 CV, as a result of the Dutchman’s pole maybe got here as a shock contemplating Q3 was the primary session he topped all weekend.
“My temper is similar as every other race,” Russell instructed Sky Sports activities F1. “Clearly I do know what’s on the road for these three, however you simply acquired to deal with it like a standard race. I feel in regular circumstances we do not have to tempo however clearly if lap one finishes within the order we begin the race, I can not think about Max simply driving off into the sundown.”
So clearly it comes as no shock that the Briton will do all he can to finish the ground-effect period on a excessive, even when it means costing one of many prime three the championship.
George Russell, Mercedes
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
“If there’s a chance and if there is a hole, if this was race one of many season I would not be aiming to do something reckless, however I am not going to go away alternatives on the desk,” added Russell.
“I additionally wish to end on the rostrum. I additionally wish to end the season on a excessive and I’ve acquired to be sincere, I will not sleep higher or worse irrespective of who wins the championship. So I will be doing my very own factor and go from there.”
It’s unlikely that one other driver could have any bearing on the championship battle, as a result of beginning fifth is Charles Leclerc who has largely struggled along with his Ferrari in Abu Dhabi. So him beginning excessive up is a shock, particularly when team-mate Lewis Hamilton dropped out of Q1, but when the Monegasque does discover himself combating with the vehicles forward, then the person fifth within the championship will even ignore the title battle identical to Russell.
“I do not even wish to know all of the situations as a result of it is fairly nerve-racking to be in that place, and in my head there will likely be none of that going into tomorrow’s race,” stated Leclerc.
“The one factor that will likely be in my head is how can I maximise my efficiency and the results of Ferrari. If which means doing all the things at that exact second when they’re behind to attempt to sluggish them down, I will try this.
“If which means not combating with them as a result of for my technique it is higher to not battle with them, I will not battle them and none of that championship title factor will likely be in my head – as a result of it is not my job to be right here to favour one or the opposite.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Picture by: Mario Renzi – Components 1 – Getty Pictures
However Fernando Alonso, who begins sixth, appears to care just a little extra in regards to the championship battle because the Aston Martin driver claimed his goal is to not make the headlines.
When requested if he desires to be an element within the battle up forward, the two-time F1 champion stated: “Probably not. I hope to be so far as doable from the battle. Properly, not too far as a result of I wish to win the factors. However, yeah, not within the information on Monday.”
Alonso nonetheless desires to maximise his race contemplating Aston Martin is deep within the midfield battle, 12 factors behind sixth-placed Racing Bulls and 7 forward of eighth-placed Haas. Regardless of that, he additionally claimed that he will likely be attempting to catch the battle between Verstappen and the McLarens “so much” on the Yas Marina huge screens.
“It is an easy circuit: Flip 3, you’ve a display that’s in the midst of your view. Flip 5, you’ve a display on the within,” added Alonso. “Flip 7, on the skin. Flip 9, there are two. One on entry, one on exit. So, loads of screens! Tomorrow goes to be a incredible present for us.”
Extra reporting by Filip Cleeren and Ronald Vording
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