Max Verstappen intends to try to keep the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship open until the last corner and continues to prove it with feats. The four-time world champion, in fact, conquered his eighth pole position of the season, the 48th of his career, signing a super lap in 1’22″207 on the Yas Marina track. The Dutchman puts the wheels in front of the championship leader Lando Norris (+0″201), who however will only need to get on the podium to be sure of becoming world champion for the first time in his career. Oscar Piastri, despite a good pace, is the loser of the day given that, with third place on the grid (+0″230), he will be forced to chase his two rivals for the title. “I’m very happy with first position, the only thing I can control is doing my best. I will try to win the race, but in the back of my mind there will also be a thought about the World Championship”, assures Verstappen, chasing his fifth title.
“I’m sorry not to be on pole last weekend, but we weren’t fast enough. We’ll try to make up for it tomorrow. My goal is to try to win”, comments Norris, who boasts a margin of 12 points over the Dutchman and 16 over Piastri. The latter is inevitably the underdog of the group, if only for a mere arithmetic question. “I wasn’t fast enough for pole. Max was also fast in the race simulation, we’ll see how much pace we have tomorrow”, underlines the Australian. To mess up the plans on the title scene, however, there could be George Russell, who brings his Mercedes to fourth position and will certainly not hold back in the event of a battle. Similar speech also for Charles Leclerc who, aboard his Ferrari, will start fifth to try and end a disappointing season with a small smile. “I’m lucky to do what I love, but I definitely want to win and it hurts to see others fighting for the title. It was difficult for the team because we were focused on 2026”, admits the Monegasque.