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MAX IN POLE FOR TITLE DECIDER
The Straits Times
|December 07, 2025
He's 'incredibly happy' but needs to win and hope leader Norris finishes off the podium
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Max Verstappen was "incredibly happy" on Dec 6 after clinching pole position for the title deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with McLaren's Formula One leader Lando Norris alongside on the front row and his teammate Oscar Piastri qualifying third.
In a shrewd tactical move by Red Bull, four-time world champion Verstappen was given an aerodynamic tow behind teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who will start 10th, to lap 0.201 of a second faster than Norris.
Norris leads Verstappen by 12 points, and Piastri by a further four, and will be champion as long as he finishes on the podium in the Dec 7 race at Yas Marina.
Verstappen will have to win and hope Norris finishes no higher than fourth and the 2025 crown will be his. For now, the Dutchman said he was thrilled with his pole position.
"In Q2, I stayed on scrubbed tyres and those laps already felt quite decent. In Q3 around here, the track temperature is coming down and you know you can push more and that's what we did," he said.
Dit verhaal komt uit de December 07, 2025-editie van The Straits Times.
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