The stage is about for a probably enthralling Formulation 1 title decider with every championship contender beginning within the high three for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. is on pole, championship chief joins him on the entrance row whereas third-placed strains up third.
It was inevitable that it will occur this fashion 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 any person to come back in and trigger havoc which is the very last thing wants.
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The person most probably to take action is , who will be a part of Piastri on the second row and the 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 surface assist he can get to win a fifth championship.
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Russell has additionally been extremely spectacular in 2025, arguably one of the 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 possibility” 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.
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“My temper is identical as some other race,” Russell instructed Sky Sports activities F1. “Clearly I do know what’s on the road for these three, however you simply received to deal with it like a standard race. I believe in regular circumstances we do not have to tempo however clearly if lap one finishes within the order we begin the race, I am unable to 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 high three the championship.
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
“If there’s a possibility 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 depart alternatives on the desk,” added Russell.
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“I additionally need to end on the rostrum. I additionally need to end the season on a excessive and I’ve received to be sincere, I will not sleep higher or worse regardless 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 combat, as a result of beginning fifth is . So him beginning excessive up is a shock, particularly when team-mate dropped out of Q1, but when the Monegasque does discover himself preventing with the vehicles forward, then the person fifth within the championship will even ignore the title combat identical to Russell.
“I do not even need to know all of the situations as a result of it is fairly disturbing to be in that place, and in my head there will likely be none of that going into tomorrow’s race,” mentioned Leclerc.
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“The one factor that will likely be in my head is how can I maximise my efficiency and the results of . If which means doing every thing at that exact second when they’re behind to try to gradual them down, I am going to do this.
“If which means not preventing with them as a result of for my technique it is higher to not combat with them, I will not combat them and none of that championship title factor will likely be in my head – as a result of it isn’t my job to be right here to favour one or the opposite.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
However , who begins sixth, appears to care just a little extra in regards to the championship combat because the Aston Martin driver claimed his goal is to not make the headlines.
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When requested if he desires to be an element within the combat up forward, the two-time F1 champion mentioned: “Probably not. I hope to be so far as potential from the combat. Effectively, not too far as a result of I need 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 combat, 12 factors behind sixth-placed and 7 forward of eighth-placed Haas. Regardless of that, he additionally claimed that he will likely be making an attempt to catch the battle between Verstappen and the McLarens “quite a bit” on the Yas Marina massive screens.
“It is a very simple circuit: Flip 3, you may have a display that’s in the course of your view. Flip 5, you may have a display on the within,” added Alonso. “Flip 7, on the surface. Flip 9, there are two. One on entry, one on exit. So, loads of screens! Tomorrow goes to be a implausible present for us.”
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Further reporting by Filip Cleeren and Ronald Vording
Pictures from Abu Dhabi GP – Observe & QualifyingMax Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Mark Thompson / Getty Photographs
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Workforce, Carlos Sainz, Williams
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Workforce, Carlos Sainz, Williams
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Flavio Briatore, Alpine Workforce Principal
Flavio Briatore, Alpine Workforce Principal
Jayce Illman / Getty Photographs
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Arthur Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari
Arthur Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari
Jayce Illman / Getty Photographs
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Ahmad AlShehab / NurPhoto by way of Getty Photographs
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Jenson Button
Jenson Button
Ahmad AlShehab / NurPhoto by way of Getty Photographs
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
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Alexander Albon, Williams
Alexander Albon, Williams
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Workforce
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Workforce
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Workforce
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Workforce
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Mika Hakkinen
Mika Hakkinen
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Workforce
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Workforce
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Peter Fox / Getty Photographs
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Peter Fox / Getty Photographs
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Peter Fox / Getty Photographs
Yuki Tsunoda, Purple Bull Racing
Yuki Tsunoda, Purple Bull Racing
Peter Fox / Getty Photographs
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Workforce
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Workforce
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
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George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Peter Fox / Getty Photographs
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Mark Thompson / Getty Photographs
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Mark Sutton / Formulation 1 by way of Getty Photographs
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Beata Zawrzel / NurPhoto by way of Getty Photographs
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Mark Thompson / Getty Photographs
Alexander Albon, Williams
Alexander Albon, Williams
Zak Mauger / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Clive Mason / Getty Photographs
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari crash
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari crash
Mark Thompson / Getty Photographs
Automobile of Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari after his crash
Automobile of Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari after his crash
Beata Zawrzel / NurPhoto by way of Getty Photographs
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari after his crash
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari after his crash
Mark Sutton / Formulation 1 by way of Getty Photographs
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Sam Bloxham / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Clive Mason / Getty Photographs
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Mark Thompson / Getty Photographs
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Workforce
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Workforce
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Clive Mason / Getty Photographs
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Zak Mauger / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Clive Rose / Formulation 1 by way of Getty Photographs
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Andy Hone/ LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Workforce, Alexander Albon, Williams
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Workforce, Alexander Albon, Williams
Jayce Illman / Getty Photographs
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Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Mark Thompson / Getty Photographs
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Zak Mauger / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Peter Fox / Getty Photographs
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Clive Mason / Getty Photographs
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Zak Mauger / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Clive Mason / Getty Photographs
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Bryn Lennon / Formulation 1 by way of Getty Photographs
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Bryn Lennon / Formulation 1 by way of Getty Photographs
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Mario Renzi – Formulation 1 – Getty Photographs
Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Bryn Lennon / Formulation 1 by way of Getty Photographs
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Bryn Lennon / Formulation 1 by way of Getty Photographs
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Bryn Lennon / Formulation 1 by way of Getty Photographs
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Peter Fox / Getty Photographs
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Bryn Lennon / Formulation 1 by way of Getty Photographs
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