Abu Dhabi GP qualifying: Piastri lights up Q1 as Hamilton tumbles out, title fight tightens under the lights
The most important qualifying hour of the year has started with a jolt. Under Yas Marina’s glare, Oscar Piastri stamped his intent on Q1, Lewis Hamilton suffered yet another bruising early exit, and the title picture tightened right on cue.
With Lando Norris arriving at the finale 12 points clear of Max Verstappen, every millimetre matters tonight. The first runs were as breathless as you’d expect: George Russell, Oliver Bearman, Piastri and Verstappen were split by just 0.078s at one stage. Then the track came to life, and Piastri found the lap of the session when it mattered — a clean, clinical 1:22.605 to lead Q1.
Verstappen slotted in second, two tenths off, looking ominously tidy without showing all his cards. The standout? Kimi Antonelli. The Mercedes rookie kept his head and delivered P3, ahead of a typically crafty Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc. Norris sat sixth, keeping his powder dry and his car out of trouble. That’ll do for now, given the stakes.
Hamilton, though, didn’t make the cut. The Ferrari driver was bounced in P16, boxed in a midfield that got very fast very quickly as the clock ran down. It’s another Q1 exit that leaves Ferrari with Leclerc carrying the flag, and Hamilton with a long night ahead.
Haas will be smiling: Bearman made Q2 with a tidy P9, and Esteban Ocon backed him up in P12. Williams, too — Carlos Sainz fired in P7, continuing his punchy form at season’s end. Racing Bulls got both cars through, Liam Lawson in P10 and Isack Hadjar in P13, while Yuki Tsunoda — now in Red Bull colours — survived by his fingernails in P15. He’ll need more in Q2.
Norris vs Verstappen is the headline act, but don’t ignore the third car in the championship fight. Piastri’s pace looked proper from the out-lap, and if he stays in the mix through Q3 he could become a very real factor in how McLaren plays this. Shades of inter-team chess might yet decide a world title.
Abu Dhabi Q1: who’s through, who’s out
1. Oscar Piastri, McLaren — 1:22.605
2. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing — +0.272
3. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes — +0.289
4. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin — +0.466
5. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari — +0.558
6. Lando Norris, McLaren — +0.573
7. Carlos Sainz, Williams — +0.582
8. George Russell, Mercedes — +0.642
9. Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team — +0.649
10. Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls — +0.660
11. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin — +0.711
12. Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team — +0.729
13. Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls — +0.768
14. Gabriel Bortoleto, Kick Sauber — +0.769
15. Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing — +0.781
— Eliminated —
16. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari — +0.789
17. Alexander Albon, Williams — +0.811
18. Nico Hülkenberg, Kick Sauber — +0.845
19. Pierre Gasly, Alpine — +0.863
20. Franco Colapinto, Alpine — +1.285
All of that, and we’ve only ticked off Q1. The margins are razor-thin, the title contenders are circling, and the circuit’s only getting quicker. Strap in for Q2 and Q3 — pole for the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix could decide a championship. More to follow as it happens.
