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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.
ANDREA STELLA : BEATING MAX VERSTAPPEN MAKES LANDO NORRIS’ F1 TITLE WIN MORE SPECIAL
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella believes Lando Norris' 2025 F1 title win is elevated because he defeated Max Verstappen, calling it a "prestigious" achievement.
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McLaren's Andrea Stella believes that beating Max Verstappen and Red Bull made Lando Norris’ 2025 Formula 1 championship win even more special.
Even though Verstappen won the race in Abu Dhabi, it wasn't enough to keep his championship title. Norris finished in third place, which was just enough to win his first Drivers’ title.
For most of the season, it looked like a battle between the McLaren drivers. Norris and Oscar Piastri had won 12 races between them in the first 15 races.
However, Red Bull had a big turnaround, and Verstappen, who was 104 points behind Piastri with nine races to go, got back into the fight.
But while Verstappen won the last three races, Norris and McLaren did just enough to win the title by only two points.
Stella, who has been in the sport since 2000, said that Norris won at a time when the competition is tougher than ever.
“Thinking back, the season really reminded me of 2003, which also came down to the last race,” Stella told the media. “There were some challenges near the end, and the whole season was close and tense. Michael Schumacher ended up winning that year.
“Then we had 2007, which again went to the last race with three drivers in contention.
“I kept thinking about these past situations during the entire weekend.
“The drivers in Formula 1 today are incredibly talented, which makes Lando’s success this season even more impressive.
“Drivers now have telemetry data from the time they start racing go-karts, and they receive so much support. They’re just naturally fast.
“We sometimes see that established drivers struggle to keep up with the younger generation.”
Norris Ends Verstappen’s Time as World Champion
Stella stated that beating Verstappen and stopping him from equaling Schumacher’s record of five titles in a row makes Norris’ win even greater.
“It’s a really big accomplishment,” he said.
“Beating Max Verstappen, a four-time World Champion, in a team that knows what it's doing, is a real achievement.
“It’s a really impressive, high-quality, and prestigious win.
“And it’s amazing that Oscar was also so close to winning. I think that shows how much of a team effort this was.”
TITLE WAIT CONTINUES: ZAK BROWN BACKS OSCAR PIASTRI FOR 2026 AFTER 410-POINT FINISH
Oscar Piastri's F1 title bid crumbled after leading 71% of the season, ultimately finishing 3rd and 13 points behind Lando Norris due to mid-season errors and team orders.
In 2025, Oscar Piastri appeared set to win the F1 drivers’ championship, leading for 71% of the season. Yet, he ended up in third place, with his McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, grabbing the title.
Max Verstappen of Red Bull squeezed between the McLaren drivers in the standings. Norris edged out Verstappen by just two points, preventing the Dutchman from securing a fifth straight title. Piastri ended the year 13 points behind his teammate, with 423, 421, and 410 points, respectively.
Norris started the season strong, winning the Australian Grand Prix and ending Verstappen's 1,029-day reign at the top. Still, Piastri took over the lead after winning in Saudi Arabia, the fifth race of the 24-race season.
Piastri held the lead for 189 days until Norris won in Mexico City (race 20) and regained it for the final 42 days. Norris's title win made him the 11th British champion in F1 history, while Australia's wait for a champion since 1980 continues.
Zak Brown, McLaren CEO, believes Piastri can contend for the 2026 title after his near-miss in 2025.
Brown thinks Piastri could have won the 2025 title, but some mid-season difficulties threw him off course. Brown still thinks Piastri should be happy with his results.
Brown feels that if Piastri can shore up a few areas, he can compete for the title in 2026. The 2026 regulations could shake up the grid, but Brown is confident that Piastri will eventually win a title.
Brown mentioned on Radio X that Oscar did great in the off-season. He thinks the two drivers pushed each other to improve, which also helped the team.
He noted that leading early in the championship is different from chasing, especially in a long season. Piastri faced some mid-season challenges but bounced back strongly.
Brown is looking forward to next year because he believes Piastri will return to Australia motivated. He sees Piastri as tough and focused, needing only a few improvements. He suggests keeping an eye on Piastri next year.
Brown added that Piastri is disappointed but shouldn't be with the overall season. He should be proud of his seven wins. He pointed out that it was only Piastri's third full season, compared to Lando's seventh, adding that Piastri is going to be a world champion, maybe even next year.
Piastri’s title hopes took a hit after McLaren's team orders at Monza.
Piastri wrapped up the 2025 season with seven of his nine career wins, 16 of his 26 podiums, and all six of his pole positions. Only Verstappen (8) had more wins, and he and Norris had more poles (8 and 7) during the season.
Norris had the most podiums in 2025 with 18, ahead of Piastri (16) and Verstappen (15). Piastri lost ground between Baku (race 17) and Las Vegas (race 22), a slide that began with the race in Italy at Monza (race 16).
McLaren instructed Piastri to give second place back to Norris during the Italian Grand Prix. Piastri had overtaken Norris, who was told he would stay ahead if he let Piastri pit first. However, Norris had a slower pit stop. Piastri initially disagreed but complied.
Piastri then crashed in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after crashing in qualifying and jumping the race start. Piastri was also unhappy with Norris after they made contact during the Singapore Grand Prix while fighting for third place.
McLaren blamed Piastri for the crash with Norris during the COTA Sprint, saying he tried an aggressive move. He also struggled in Mexico City, Sao Paulo, and Las Vegas due to low grip before recovering in Qatar.
To top it off, both McLaren drivers were disqualified in Las Vegas after their cars were found to have excessive wear on the underfloor. A bad call from McLaren in Qatar also cost Piastri a possible win.
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