What the teams said – Qualifying in Abu Dhabi

Max Verstappen clinched pole for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, displaying Red Bull's formidable pace. A strategic tow from teammate Yuki Tsunoda initially aided his Q3 run, though Verstappen then improved independently. McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri qualified P2 and P3, setting up a championship showdown despite Red Bull's raw speed. Mercedes' George Russell took P4, battling an unstable car, while Kimi Antonelli finished 14th after an FP3 incident. Charles Leclerc placed his Ferrari P5 after setup changes, contrasting with Lewis Hamilton's P16 Q1 exit. Fernando Alonso impressed with P6, and Kick Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto delivered a strong P7, anticipating a thrilling finale.