Verstappen takes pole for F1 title-deciding Abu Dhabi GP

Max Verstappen took a brilliant pole position for the title deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ahead of Formula I title rivals Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri on Saturday.

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The thrilling three-way battle will be decided on Sunday at the Yas Marina Circuit. The McLaren driver Norris is 12 points ahead of Red Bull's Verstappen and 16 ahead of McLaren teammate Piastri.

Verstappen is aiming for his fifth straight F1 title - Norris and Piastri are chasing their first. All three drivers have won seven races.

The Dutchman is ready to fight for another title battle on the final day just like in 2021, when he beat seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton on the last lap to clinch his first championship.

"We find out tomorrow don't we?" Verstappen said. "I will try and win the race."

Pole position is crucial on the 58-lap circuit in Abu Dhabi, where overtaking is hard. Every driver has won from pole since 2015. The last driver not to win from pole was Nico Rosberg in 2014, when he was beaten by his then Mercedes teammate Hamilton.

Verstappen had already set the fastest lap on his first go but went even quicker on his second attempt and clocked 1 minute, 22.207 seconds, making him .201 faster than Norris and .230 quicker than Piastri.

"That was insane," Verstappen said over team radio after his eighth pole of the season and 48th overall. "Yes. Lovely."