Max Verstappen

Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2020 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Kamran Jebreili – Pool/Getty Images)

Verstappen snatches pole for season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen got the better of the Mercedes duo for the first time in 2020 but the top three were separated by just 0.086s.

Max Verstappen

Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2020 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Kamran Jebreili – Pool/Getty Images)

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen produced a stunning lap in qualifying to snatch a shock pole position for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. 

Verstappen got the better of the Mercedes duo for the first time in 2020 but the top three were separated by just 0.086s.

Verstappen grabs pole

The Red Bull driver’s session started terribly after he flatspotted his first set of tyres and then struggled for performance in the first segment. 

Verstappen improved as the session went at Yas Martina to take the first non-Mercedes pole in Abu Dhabi since 2013 under lights.

The Dutchman ended Mercedes run of being one-two in every Q3 session at Abu Dhabi in the turbo-hybrid era.

Verstappen’s stunning middle sector made all the difference and helped to put him on P1 at a track where he has never led a lap in his Formula 1 career.

Valtteri Bottas, who was told by team boss Toto Wolff on team radio “all you have Valtteri”, slotted into second, pipping his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton.

McLaren’s Lando Norris also delivered a terrific to go fourth quickest, just 0.25s off pole, with Red Bull’s Alex Albon having a smoother weekend to take fifth as he fights for his future at the team beyond the end of this season.

Carlos Sainz was sixth, running an older engine than his McLaren team mate which it is believed is costing him around two tenths of a second per lap, ahead of AlphaTauri’s Daniil Kvyat, who continues his very strong end to a campaign which might be his last in F1.

Lance Stroll was the best-placed Racing Point in eighth, with his teammate Sergio Perez starting from the back after a host of engine component changes – and that spices up the battle for P3 in the constructors’ championship as their lead over McLaren is just 10 points.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and the other AlphaTauri of Pierre Gasly rounded out the top 10 in 2020’s final qualifying session.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying

POSNODRIVERCARQ1Q2Q3LAPS
133Max VerstappenRED BULL RACING HONDA1:35.9931:35.6411:35.24619
277Valtteri BottasMERCEDES1:35.6991:35.5271:35.27118
344Lewis HamiltonMERCEDES1:35.5281:35.4661:35.33220
44Lando NorrisMCLAREN RENAULT1:36.0161:35.8491:35.49717
523Alexander AlbonRED BULL RACING HONDA1:36.1061:35.6541:35.57115
655Carlos SainzMCLAREN RENAULT1:36.5171:36.1921:35.81514
726Daniil KvyatALPHATAURI HONDA1:36.4591:36.2141:35.96320
818Lance StrollRACING POINT BWT MERCEDES1:36.5021:36.1431:36.04615
916Charles LeclercFERRARI1:35.8811:35.9321:36.06520
1010Pierre GaslyALPHATAURI HONDA1:36.5451:36.2821:36.24220
1131Esteban OconRENAULT1:36.7831:36.35912
123Daniel RicciardoRENAULT1:36.7041:36.4069
135Sebastian VettelFERRARI1:36.6551:36.63112
1499Antonio GiovinazziALFA ROMEO RACING FERRARI1:37.0751:38.24812
1511Sergio PerezRACING POINT BWT MERCEDES1:36.034DNS4
167Kimi RäikkönenALFA ROMEO RACING FERRARI1:37.5556
1720Kevin MagnussenHAAS FERRARI1:37.8639
1863George RussellWILLIAMS MERCEDES1:38.0458
1951Pietro FittipaldiHAAS FERRARI1:38.1739
206Nicholas LatifiWILLIAMS MERCEDES1:38.4437

Q1 107% time – 1:42.214

Note – Leclerc penalised three grid places for causing a collision at the previous round. Perez and Magnussen required to start race from back of grid for use of additional power unit elements.