Lando Norris pulled off a stunning performance to grab pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, leading a McLaren front-row lockout with teammate Oscar Piastri in second.
It’s McLaren’s first front-row lockout since 2012, and it couldn’t have come at a better time with the championship on the line.
Carlos Sainz will start third in what turned out to be a dramatic qualifying session under the lights at Yas Marina Circuit.
The big shock came early when Lewis Hamilton, in his final qualifying session for Mercedes, ended up stuck in 18th place. The seven-time world champion had a bizarre incident where a track bollard got caught under his car, ruining his last chance at a fast lap.
Things weren’t much better for Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. He’ll start dead last after having his best lap deleted in Q2 and facing a 10-place grid penalty.
The night started rough for Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who had a lap deleted for track limits before stewards changed their minds and reinstated his time.
Max Verstappen, who’s dominated most of the season, had a heart-stopping moment in Q3. The Dutch champion nearly lost his car at the final corner but somehow kept it out of the wall. He’ll start fifth.
Nico Hulkenberg gave Haas something to smile about, qualifying fourth in what might be his last race for the team.
Valtteri Bottas showed he’s still got it, making it to Q3 for the first time this season in what could be his final Formula 1 race.
The qualifying session played out in three parts:
Q1 saw Hamilton’s shocking exit, along with Albon, Zhou, Colapinto, and Doohan.
Q2 claimed Tsunoda, Lawson, Stroll, the unfortunate Leclerc, and Magnussen.
The final shootout in Q3 is where Norris showed his class, putting together a perfect lap when it mattered most.
Tomorrow’s race looks set to be a thriller, with McLaren hoping to convert their front-row advantage into a crucial championship points haul.
