Even with little to gain for Red Bull at this stage, Max Verstappen refused to concede the chance to secure the last pole position of the year at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Dutch driver will start from the front in Sunday’s race, ahead of Charles Leclerc, setting up a fresh duel after their proposed clash in Las Vegas the week prior.
Spain’s Fernando Alonso slipped the pace slightly but still moved into the top tier, claiming seventh after reaching Q3 once again with Aston Martin. Carlos Sainz, by contrast, dropped to 16th as he failed to progress from the early phase due to traffic and discomfort with the Ferrari throughout the weekend.
Verstappen secures final pole of the year in Abu Dhabi
There will be a need to return on race day for Verstappen, who aims to contribute to Ferrari’s push to finish the season ahead of Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship. Mercedes stood four points behind the Ferrari squad in the standings heading into this round.
Abu Dhabi GP. Classification:
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 1’23″445
2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 1’23″584
3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 1’23″782
4. George Russell (Mercedes) 1’23″788
5. Lando Norris (McLaren) 1’23″816
6. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) 1’23″968
7. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 1’24″084
8. Nico Hülkenberg (Haas) 1’24″108
9. Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) 1’24″160
10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) 1’24″548
11. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1’24″359
12. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) 1’24″391
13. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) 1’24″422
14. Alexander Albon (Williams) 1’24″439
15. Daniel Ricciardo (AlphaTauri) 1’24″442
16. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) 1’24″738
17. Kevin Magnussen (Haas) 1’24″764
18. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) 1’24″788
19. Guanyu Zhou (Alfa Romeo) 1’25″159
20. Logan Sargeant (Williams) – ST
Notes: The final pole position of the season underscores Verstappen’s ongoing dominance and the competitive depth across the grid. As the race approaches, the strategy calls, tire wear, and track evolution in Abu Dhabi will shape the outcome, with teams weighing risk against potential gains in a season finale that many teams hope to finish strongly in the standings.
Endurance, momentum, and the right balance of aggression and control will be tested as drivers push to end the year on a high note. This Abu Dhabi round also marks a pivotal moment for Ferrari, which is striving to close the gap to Mercedes in the Constructors’ standings and set the tone for the next season.
In the broader context of the championship, Verstappen’s pole effort reinforces his position as a centerpiece of Red Bull’s race-day execution, while Leclerc’s strong front-row showing signals Ferrari’s renewed challenge for the podium as the teams look ahead to the winter break and the upcoming season’s development race. The Abu Dhabi outcome will be dissected by analysts and fans, as it informs both morale and momentum heading into the off-season. (Source: race reports and official classifications.)