TELEMETRY REVEALS HOW MAX VERSTAPPEN BEAT LANDO NORRIS FOR CRUCIAL POLE
Despite McLaren's expected pace, Verstappen nailed pole by two-tenths. Analytical breakdown of how Red Bull's qualifying setup and tire strategy proved superior in the Abu Dhabi title fight.
Max Verstappen grabbed his eighth pole position of the season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This sets the stage for a big title fight in the final race of 2025.
Let's look at how Verstappen beat McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, using telemetry data.
Abu Dhabi is usually a track that fits McLaren better for one-lap speed, and that seemed true in the practice sessions.
Verstappen showed he could do it all without any help from Tsunoda, who gave him a slipstream on the main straight.
Verstappen's gap over Norris was a bit over two tenths of a second. That's pretty big, because the grid was so tight.
So, where was Max faster?
Telemetry data shows the fight for pole position was close in the first sector.
Both drivers braked well and handled the fast turns.
Max had a slight advantage after the first section, but it wasn't a game-changer.
The real difference showed up in T5.
Norris held a better line and carried more speed, but Max had more grip and used a wider path. He also accelerated better.
Verstappen's lower-drag rear wing helped him get a higher top speed on the straight between T5 and T6. He gained about a tenth on Norris.
Verstappen braked later into T6 and picked up another tenth through the T6–T7 chicane.
Norris had been strongest in the third sector during practice.
He is good at controlling his car through slow turns, but he couldn't take advantage when it counted.
He was faster through T9 and closed the gap there, but Max was faster through the hotel section.
Norris's final-sector time was better, but only by 0.029 seconds. That wasn't enough.
On the bright side, he still finished ahead of his teammate Piastri.
The data looks almost the same when comparing Piastri's and Verstappen's best laps.
Piastri matched Max in the first sector, but Verstappen was stronger on the first DRS straight and faster through the T6–T7 chicane.
Like with Norris, Piastri gained a bit of time in the final sector, but not enough.
Norris was slightly better at the first corner and kept that lead through the lap.
Could the McLaren drivers have been better?
The data says all three drivers put in their best laps when it mattered most.
Their ideal qualifying laps matched their real ones, meaning they got the most out of their cars and the track.
Red Bull had a better car setup for qualifying.
Their choice of a lower-downforce package was better, and Verstappen built his lead in the second sector.
He started Q3 on fresh softs, while both McLaren drivers used worn sets.
Verstappen's first lap was enough for pole, which keeps his title hopes alive.
But none of this matters unless he wins his fifth championship on Sunday.
The race will be exciting.
Norris was faster in all three practice runs, shifting expectations.
But if there's one thing we've learned this season, it's that you can't count out Max.
On Saturday, he showed why, beating both papaya cars.
He even did it twice in Q3, since his first try was good enough for pole.
KIMI ANTONELLI LEADS F1; GEORGE RUSSELL DROPS TO FOURTH AFTER FRUSTRATING P4 FINISH AT SUZUKA
Kimi Antonelli leads the F1 championship! Discover why George Russell is under fire, and Max Verstappen is eyeing a Mercedes seat.
Heading into 2026, everyone had George Russell pegged as the clear favourite for the F1 drivers’ title. Now, Kimi Antonelli is the one stealing the spotlight.
Russell’s in the toughest spot of his Mercedes career, and every time his 19-year-old teammate lays down another blistering lap, the pressure ramps up.
Back-to-back wins in China and Japan haven’t just made Antonelli a real threat for the championship hey’ve totally changed the vibe in the Mercedes garage. Suddenly, everyone’s looking at Russell differently.
It’s a harsh reality. Russell’s now 28, this is his fifth season with Mercedes, and before the season, the bookies put him at the top. But things haven’t gone his way: car problems and Antonelli off to a flying start have made life as the team’s “senior driver” anything but easy.
Antonelli is leading the championship with 97 points; he’s 22 clear of Russell, and he’s won two of the season’s first three races.
The pressure on Russell goes deeper than just being outscored by his teammate. The clock’s ticking, and the spectre of Max Verstappen isn’t going away.
Antonelli’s rise has been ruthless. He’s snagged a pole in both China and Japan. Every big result just confirms what some at Mercedes are starting to admit: he looks like the future, especially since he’s so good on the tough tyre compounds.
Antonelli himself isn’t pretending he’s the finished product. After his win in Japan, where he slipped back to sixth at the start, by the way, he said his launches off the line “definitely” need work. “It’s been a weak point this year, and I need to improve that because you can easily win or lose races with that.” Still, he’s on top. After Japan, he said, “It’s too early to think about the championship, but we’re in a good way.” He’s ambitious, but grounded.
Russell, meanwhile, battled a rear suspension setup issue at Suzuka. Too much oversteer, not enough grip. Toto Wolff admitted the tweak “put the car on the nose” and hurt them on Sunday. Russell crossed the line fourth, losing more ground to Antonelli.
People are noticing the shift. Christian Danner, former F1 driver, reckons Russell’s going to fight back. Maybe he will. But as the points gap grows and each race builds Antonelli’s reputation, talk is cheap.
Here’s the wild card: Mercedes could go for Verstappen.
The four-time champ is sitting in ninth, with only 12 points after three rounds. That’s foreign territory for Max. With Red Bull floundering and upcoming 2026 rules causing headaches, he’s reportedly rethinking his future there.
Sure, Verstappen’s Red Bull contract goes through 2028. But there are performance clauses he can walk if he’s outside the top two by summer break. That’s not looking so far-fetched the way things are standing.
He’s called the new cars “fundamentally flawed.” Is he admitting he’s “seriously considering quitting Formula 1.” And last year? Mercedes and Verstappen’s people were in talks. It even held up Russell’s contract talks with Wolff.
If Verstappen comes on the market, you know Wolff’s going to take a serious look. He’s openly a fan. For Russell, that’s unsettling. If Mercedes keeps winning and Verstappen wants in, Russell’s seat isn’t safe.
Russell came to Mercedes back in 2022, expecting to be a title contender. He got his first win in São Paulo that year, and he’s been a reliable points finisher, fourth in the 2025 standings with 319 points, a personal best.
But being “reliable” doesn’t cut it when a teenager is beating you and a superstar like Verstappen could be about to knock on the door.
It’s only been three races, but Antonelli’s already ahead 2–1 in both qualifying and race results, and those two are poles and outright wins.
Wolff tried to pump up Russell before things got started, calling him “one of the best” and saying it was nice he was the bookies’ top pick. But Wolff also tipped Antonelli to step up in his second season. That’s already coming true.
Russell’s shot at a championship is getting slimmer by the week. If Antonelli keeps this up and if Verstappen’s name enters the mix, Mercedes has some massive decisions ahead.
At this point, Russell’s fighting for more than just a title. He’s fighting to prove he deserves a place at the top at all.
ZAK BROWN COMPLETES A "RED BULL HAT-TRICK" BY SIGNING GIANPIERO LAMBIASE FOR 2028
Zak Brown confirms GianPiero Lambiase joins McLaren as Chief Racing Officer. See how this impacts Red Bull and Verstappen.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has finally spoken up after landing GianPiero Lambiase as the team’s new Formula 1 Chief Racing Officer starting in 2028.
News of Lambiase’s move from Red Bull to McLaren has already got people buzzing in the paddock. And really, it’s a big deal that the reigning constructors’ champions just added another heavyweight to their ranks. First, Rob Marshall, known for his aerodynamic expertise, came on board. Then Will Courtenay, the former Head of Strategy, joined too. Now, Lambiase completes the trio.
We still don’t know exactly what Lambiase will be handling, but he’ll report to Team Principal Andrea Stella, who’s been rumoured to have caught Ferrari’s eye.
Brown couldn’t hide his excitement in his first public comments. He went on X to announce: “Happy to share that GianPiero Lambiase will join the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team as Chief Racing Officer, reporting into Team Principal Andrea Stella, when his contract ends no later than 2028. He joins an incredible team under Andrea’s leadership, and I’m excited about what we can achieve together.”
Red Bull’s statement had a totally different vibe. The team confirmed Lambiase would leave in 2028, when his contract is up, but stopped short of saying when he could head over to McLaren. “GP is a valued member of the team, who joined in 2015. Until his planned departure, GP continues in his roles as head of racing and as race engineer to Max Verstappen. The team and he are fully committed to adding more success to our strong track record together.”
Honestly, Zak Brown is shaking things up in the F1 paddock. He’s snagging Red Bull’s big names, much like Christian Horner did to Mercedes when the ground effect era started. Lambiase’s decision to join McLaren really does feel like the end of an era for Red Bull.
