Max Verstappen was in scintillating form at Yas Marina, grabbing his tenth pole of the season under the lights in Abu Dhabi. Having won from pole here last season, the Dutchman knows he is one step closer to that maiden championship crown.
Verstappen’s 1m 22.109s was an incredible 0.371s clear of Lewis Hamilton, who lines up second on the grid after seeing his rival surge ahead. It was also a new track record, Yas Marina having gone through some extensive changes since the F1 circus last raced here in 2020.
Red Bull played the team game, using Verstappen’s team mate Sergio Perez to provide a ‘tow’ on the first flying laps in Q3, which propelled the Dutchman forward and contributed to his stunning time. That lap was so good, Verstappen didn’t even need to finish his second flying run, knowing pole was already his.
Watch Verstappen's pole-setting lap in the video player above.
Next Up
Related Articles
Team Previews 2026All you need to know about Williams
DRIVING TOMORROW: Ariana Bravo on the future of F1 fan engagement
DRIVING TOMORROW: James Vowles on F1’s future
Antonelli outlines title goal ahead of 2026 season.webp)
What F1 drivers were up to during the remainder of the off-season
Williams show off their new livery for 2026 F1 season