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.
SERGIO PEREZ BREAKS SILENCE ON CADILLAC’S FIRST FOUR RACES OF 2026 F1 SEASON
Discover why Sergio Perez is confident in Cadillac’s 2026 path despite urgent needs for better pace and reliability fixes.
Sergio Perez didn’t waste time sharing his thoughts on Cadillac after the first four races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Cadillac shows up in 2026 as F1’s newest team, but honestly, not a lot of people expected fireworks right away. With veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Perez behind the wheel, the team’s start has been a mix, some moments full of promise, others derailed by reliability issues.
Still, Cadillac isn’t just stuck at the back. Lately, they’ve been right there fighting with Aston Martin and even managed to split them in Miami, which turned a few heads.
Perez knows the team is at risk of falling behind in this crazy-fast development race, though. “We still have work to do, but I’m confident we’re on the right path,” he told reporters, including Motorsport Week.
He added, “Sometimes, once tyre degradation sets in, we can hang with the midfield, but they always seem to find another gear. There’s a long way to go this season, but we’re in a rush to find more pace. We know Aston will get stronger, and we don’t want to be left behind.”
Racing Aston Martin has actually brought Perez some enjoyment. He especially likes battling Fernando Alonso, calling those fights fair and satisfying. Still, he pointed out a weak spot: “We’re having fun with them. Racing Fernando is always great because he’s so fair. But we struggled with tyre degradation; we burnt through them too quickly. We picked the hard compound, but honestly, looking back, I should’ve gone with the soft.”
He said there’s plenty to analyse, and really, the key is getting a better grip on their car as they look ahead to Canada. “We don’t have much time, but in the short term, we need to fix the degradation. We have some ideas, but putting them together is our biggest challenge in the next few weeks.”
Cadillac may be the new kid on the block and still finding its feet, but it’s already starting to make an impact. The road out of the lower ranks won’t be easy, but they’re moving in the right direction.
HOW KIMI ANTONELLI’S THREE-RACE WIN STREAK IS REDEFINING THE MERCEDES TEAM HIERARCHY
With a 43-second gap in Miami, Antonelli proves he’s ready to lead the World Championship. Can Russell bounce back in Canada?
David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver, recently pointed out that Kimi Antonelli might be on track to overtake George Russell as Mercedes’ team leader.
Antonelli has been on an impressive run, clinching victories in the last three races and pulling ahead by 20 points over his main competitor and teammate, Russell.
At the Miami race, the young Italian once again outperformed his more seasoned teammate, with Russell managing only fourth place, trailing by 43 seconds.
Coulthard acknowledged Antonelli’s rapid rise in 2026, which is just his second season in F1. He highlighted Antonelli’s strengths and suggested that the Italian is, in many ways, now leading the Mercedes team.
“He’s come of age,” Coulthard said during the Up To Speed podcast.
Despite being relatively new, Antonelli has shown resilience, dealing not only with the pressure from a driver like Lando ready to strike but also with technical glitches like inconsistent paddle shifts. Coulthard mentioned how Antonelli kept his cool even when his engineer, Bono, was trying to help troubleshoot the issue in a tense moment.
“I think he’s earned the right to lead the World Championship,” Coulthard added, noting that this situation probably feels uncomfortable for George. Still, the expectations now lean heavily toward Antonelli leading the team, especially based on recent results.
Coulthard also pointed out that Russell has the experience and skill to reclaim his position as the team’s lead driver, but emphasised that only one can come out on top; someone must finish first and the other second.
The rivalry between them might start opening doors for other teams. Coulthard noted that improvements from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull were already noticeable, especially in Miami.
“Winning in the best car isn’t always straightforward. Many have tried and struggled,” he said.
For Russell, who is feeling the weight of this momentum shift, the upcoming race in Canada will be crucial if he wants to close the gap and halt Antonelli’s winning streak.
