F1 Abu Dhabi GP LIVE: Lando Norris, Max Verstappen & Oscar Piastri In 3-Way Race For Title

Formula One, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Live Updates: Formula One’s title contenders secured the top three grid positions on Saturday, setting the stage for an intense season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Max Verstappen claimed pole position, with McLaren’s championship leader Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri following closely.

In a strategic move by Red Bull, four-time world champion Verstappen received an aerodynamic tow from teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who will start from 10th place. This allowed Verstappen to lead on his first flying lap. He then improved his time by 0.088 seconds with an unassisted lap, clocking one minute 22.207 seconds, which was 0.201 seconds faster than Norris.

Norris moved from third to second place on his second attempt, after teammate Piastri initially seemed poised to qualify ahead.

The Briton leads Verstappen by 12 points and is 16 points ahead of Piastri. He will clinch the championship if he finishes on the podium in Sunday night’s race at the Yas Marina circuit.

However, this may prove challenging with Mercedes’s George Russell, who was fastest in the second phase and final practice, starting in fourth place, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in fifth.