Norris fights Verstappen for Abu Dhabi GP pole as Hamilton suffers nightmare

25 November 2023 , 15:01

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Max Verstappen took pole position for the 12th time this season (Image: Getty Images)

Max Verstappen held off the McLaren challenge to secure pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, while Lewis Hamilton's worst fear came true.

Lando Norris was chief threat to the Dutchman in Q3 but made a mistake on his final run which ended his chances of pole. Oscar Piastri, George Russell and Charles Leclerc all improved, but it was not enough to stop Verstappen.

It means a 12th pole position of the season for the record-breaking Red Bull star while Leclerc will be the one to join him on the front row. Sergio Perez had briefly shot up to second but his lap was deleted for track limits violations so he will start ninth.

Hamilton was not involved in that Q3 melee after going only 11th fastest overall. Mercedes team-mate Russell had been the one to condemn him to a Q2 exit after leapfrogging him in the final seconds of that session.

Carlos Sainz was the big victim of Q1 as he went only 16th fastest. It would have been music to the ears of Hamilton and his Mercedes team given they are in a close fight for second place in the championship with only four points between them.

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Logan Sargeant showed good pace but had both his fast laps deleted, forcing him to start the Grand Prix last on the grid. It condemned the American to the reality of having been out-qualified by his team-mate at all 22 races this season.

Both Alfa Romeo cars were also out while Kevin Magnussen was the other star condemned to the bottom five in that first part of qualifying. But there was some good news for Haas at least as Nico Hulkenberg made it through to the final 10.

Hamilton was not so lucky. He warned after Friday practice that reaching Q3 was going to be a struggle and that prediction proved to be correct, as the seven-time world champion could manage only 11th place on the grid.

Norris was second quickest behind Verstappen after the first Q3 runs. Verstappen didn't improve but neither did the Brit despite a monster first sector as he made a mistake in the final corners which cost him too much time.

It also allowed Piastri, Russell and Leclerc to split Norris from pole, though none of them could deny Verstappen. The Red Bull racer was unhappy with his car in FP3 earlier in the day but the team clearly found the right set-up he needed just in time.

Full 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying result

1. Max Verstappen - Red Bull
2. Charles Leclerc - Ferrari
3. Oscar Piastri - McLaren
4. George Russell - Mercedes
5. Lando Norris - McLaren
6. Yuki Tsunoda - AlphaTauri
7. Fernando Alonso - Aston Martin
8. Nico Hulkenberg - Haas
9. Sergio Perez - Red Bull
10. Pierre Gasly - Alpine
11. Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes
12. Esteban Ocon - Alpine
13. Lance Stroll - Aston Martin
14. Alex Albon - Williams
15. Daniel Ricciardo - AlphaTauri
16. Carlos Sainz - Ferrari
17. Kevin Magnussen - Haas
18. Valtteri Bottas - Alfa Romeo
19. Zhou Guanyu - Alfa Romeo
20. Logan Sargeant - Williams

Daniel Moxon