Max Verstappen snatched pole position for the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a blistering 1:22.877 lap, keeping his dream of a fifth world title alive going into the final race. The Dutchman starts Sunday’s showdown from the front, ahead of championship leader Lando Norris in P2 and Oscar Piastri in P3. With only a 12-point deficit to Norris, everything now hinges on the 58 laps around Yas Marina.
For Verstappen to be crowned champion, he must outscore Norris by 13 points or more. The simplest path is straightforward: win the race (25 points) and hope Norris finishes fourth or lower. Any position lower than P1 for Verstappen makes the maths harder, but if Norris drops off the podium entirely, even a second or third place could still hand Max the crown on countback.
Norris, meanwhile, has the title within touching distance. A podium finish of any kind (P1, P2, or P3) guarantees the McLaren driver his maiden world championship, regardless of where Verstappen finishes. The Briton also holds the tie-breaker with eight second-place finishes this season compared to Verstappen’s five.
Oscar Piastri remains a dark horse. The Australian can only win the championship if he takes victory and Norris finishes sixth or lower, an outcome that would require chaos ahead of him. Should all three drivers somehow end the season tied on points, Norris would still be champion thanks to his superior number of runner-up finishes.
Everything will be settled under the Abu Dhabi lights on Sunday. One race, three contenders, and a maximum of 25 points left on the table, this is set to be one of the most nail-biting title deciders in years.
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