A few months ago, Max Verstappen was 104 points adrift of Championship leader Oscar Piastri. On Saturday, the defending World Champion roared back into contention, claiming pole position for the final showdown in Abu Dhabi and setting himself up for a shot at a fifth consecutive world title. This season’s turnaround is arguably the greatest comeback in F1 history.
Verstappen celebrated the achievement with a long embrace and kiss with wife Kelly Piquet after exiting the RB21 at Yas Marina, clearly buoyed by the result — as were his Red Bull teammates.
“It’s all up to the race now. Let’s see what happens. Obviously I’m going to try and win the race but we also want to get a good finish with the most points possible,” Verstappen said after qualifying.
Yuki Tsunoda stepped up for the team when it mattered most, making Q3 and securing a top-10 starting position — a potentially crucial advantage for Red Bull’s race strategy on Sunday. McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri qualified second and third, keeping their own title hopes alive.
Norris leads the championship with 408 points, Verstappen is second on 396, and Piastri is third with 392. With all three still in contention, the title will come down to tactics, luck, and determination.
Mercedes driver George Russell put in a solid qualifying performance and could trouble the McLaren pair on race day if he maintains pace. Charles Leclerc was the only other driver to find decent rhythm, while Lewis Hamilton was eliminated in Q1.
Fernando Alonso qualified sixth for Aston Martin, Gabriel Bortoleto seventh, with Haas’ Esteban Ocon, and Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar and Tsunoda rounding out the top 10. Tsunoda also assisted Verstappen during Q3 by providing a tow on a flying lap — a timely boost for his teammate ahead of the title decider.
With the championship tension at its peak, Verstappen remains composed. Meanwhile, Piastri and Norris face the immense pressure of needing to outperform not just Verstappen, but each other, if they are to claim their maiden F1 crown.
