Watch Qualifying highlights as Verstappen takes Abu Dhabi pole

Max Verstappen secured a crucial pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, setting an unbeatable lap time of 1m 22.207s. This puts the Red Bull driver in prime position to pursue his fifth world title, having edged out Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. George Russell took fourth place for Mercedes, ahead of a much-improved Charles Leclerc in fifth. Conversely, Lewis Hamilton faced another challenging session, suffering his third consecutive Q1 exit after a crash in FP3, forcing him to start the race from 16th. The intense qualifying sets the stage for a thrilling season finale.