Video
ONBOARD: Ride with Verstappen as he grabs pole for the final race of the season at Yas Marina
Share
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.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
News F1 ACADEMY docuseries produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine to launch globally on Netflix in 2025
News ‘An incredible legend of the sport’ – F1 drivers pay tribute to Ayrton Senna 30 years after his tragic death
Live BlogF1 Unlocked AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from first practice for the Miami Grand Prix
Feature IN PHOTOS: Check out the special driver helmets and one-off car liveries at the Miami Grand Prix