Provisional Starting Grid Set for Championship Deciding Abu Dhabi GP
Summary
Max Verstappen clinched pole position for the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, setting the stage for a thrilling championship decider against McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Norris leads the standings by a slim margin, making the final race a high-stakes three-way battle for the Formula 1 title. The provisional grid promises an intense showdown, with key rivals starting close together.
Max Verstappen has secured pole position for the championship-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, outqualifying McLaren rivals Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. This puts Verstappen in a prime spot for Sunday's final race of the 2025 season, which will determine the Formula 1 World Champion.
Why it matters:
- The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the final race of the 2025 F1 season, making this pole position crucial for Verstappen's championship bid.
- Lando Norris currently leads the championship by a narrow margin, with Verstappen and Piastri close behind, setting the stage for a thrilling three-way title fight.
- The starting grid positions are critical in a championship decider, as track position can significantly influence race strategy and outcomes.
The details:
- Pole Position: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) will start from pole, having been the quickest in Saturday's qualifying session.
- Front Row: Lando Norris (McLaren), one of the championship contenders, will complete the front row, starting P2.
- Second Row: Oscar Piastri (McLaren), the third championship hopeful, will start P3, followed by George Russell (Mercedes) in P4.
- Midfield Standouts: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) secured P5, with two-time world champion Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) alongside him in P6.
- Rookie Performances: Gabriel Bortoleto had an impressive qualifying, finishing P7, while future Red Bull Racing driver Isack Hadjar will start P9.
- Struggles: Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli was eliminated in Q2, starting P14. Lewis Hamilton's challenging weekend continued with a crash in FP3, resulting in a P16 start.
The big picture:
- Lando Norris enters the race leading the championship with 408 points, 12 points ahead of Max Verstappen (396 points) and 16 points ahead of Oscar Piastri (392 points).
- For Norris to secure the title independently of his rivals' results, he must finish at least third.
- The tight points standings mean that any of the top three drivers could claim the championship depending on Sunday's race results, promising a dramatic conclusion to the season.
What's next:
- All eyes will be on Sunday's race, where strategies, pit stops, and on-track battles will determine the 2025 Formula 1 World Champion. The pressure is immense on all three contenders, and the outcome is highly unpredictable, ensuring a captivating finale.
Original Article :https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/the-provisional-starting-grid-for-the-championshi...
