Motorsport photoThe stage is set for a potentially enthralling Formula 1 title decider with each championship contender starting in the top three for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Max Verstappen is on pole, championship leader Lando Norris joins him on the front row while third-placed Oscar Piastri lines up third. It was inevitable that it would happen this way and it probably suits Norris the most, considering all he needs is a podium to clinch his maiden title. But the grid is tight, less than a second separated the cars in Q3, and there is always the potential for somebody to come in and cause havoc which is the last thing McLaren needs.The man most likely to do so is George Russell, who will join Piastri on the second row and the Mercedes driver was even pushing Red Bull to give him a tow in Q3 because he knows Verstappen needs all the outside help he can get to win a fifth championship. 
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Russell has also been highly impressive in 2025, arguably the best driver behind Verstappen, maximising the most out of his Mercedes with wins in Canada and Singapore. He even thinks there “could be an opportunity” to add a third victory to his 2025 CV, because the Dutchman’s pole perhaps came as a surprise considering Q3 was the first session he topped all weekend.“My mood is the same as any other race,” Russell told Sky Sports F1. “Obviously I know what’s on the line for those three, but you just got to treat it like a normal race. I think in normal circumstances we don’t have to pace but obviously if lap one finishes in the order we start the race, I can’t imagine Max just driving off into the sunset.”So obviously it comes as no surprise that the Briton will do all he can to end the ground-effect era on a high, even if it means costing one of the top three the championship.George Russell, MercedesGeorge Russell, Mercedes“If there’s an opportunity and if there’s a gap, if this was race one of the season I wouldn’t be aiming to do anything reckless, but I’m not going to leave opportunities on the table,” added Russell.“I also want to finish on the podium. I also want to finish the season on a high and I’ve got to be honest, I won’t sleep better or worse no matter who wins the championship. So I’ll be doing my own thing and go from there.”It is unlikely that another driver may have any bearing on the championship fight, because starting fifth is Charles Leclerc who has largely struggled with his Ferrari in Abu Dhabi. So him starting high up is a shock, especially when team-mate Lewis Hamilton dropped out of Q1, but if the Monegasque does find himself fighting with the cars ahead, then the man fifth in the championship will also ignore the title fight just like Russell.“I don’t even want to know all the scenarios because it’s quite stressful to be in that position, and in my head there will be none of that going into tomorrow’s race,” said Leclerc.“The only thing that will be in my head is how can I maximise my performance and the result of Ferrari. If that means doing everything at that particular moment when they are behind to try and slow them down, I’ll do that.“If that means not fighting with them because for my strategy it’s better to not fight with them, I won’t fight them and none of that championship title thing will be in my head – because it’s not my job to be here to favour one or the other.”Charles Leclerc, FerrariCharles Leclerc, FerrariBut Fernando Alonso, who starts sixth, seems to care a little more about the championship fight as the Aston Martin driver claimed his target is to not make the headlines.When asked if he wants to be a factor in the fight up ahead, the two-time F1 champion said: “Not really. I hope to be as far as possible from the fight. Well, not too far because I want to win the points. But, yeah, not in the news on Monday.”Alonso still wants to maximise his race considering Aston Martin is deep in the midfield fight, 12 points behind sixth-placed Racing Bulls and seven ahead of eighth-placed Haas. Despite that, he also claimed that he will be trying to catch the battle between Verstappen and the McLarens “a lot” on the Yas Marina big screens.“It’s a very easy circuit: Turn 3, you have a screen that is in the middle of your view. Turn 5, you have a screen on the inside,” added Alonso. “Turn 7, on the outside. Turn 9, there are two. One on entry, one on exit. So, plenty of screens! Tomorrow is going to be a fantastic show for us.”Additional reporting by Filip Cleeren and Ronald VordingPhotos from Abu Dhabi GP – Practice & QualifyingMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty ImagesOliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Carlos Sainz, WilliamsOliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Carlos Sainz, WilliamsGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty ImagesFlavio Briatore, Alpine Team Principal Flavio Briatore, Alpine Team Principal Jayce Illman / Getty ImagesLando Norris, McLarenLando Norris, McLarenSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty ImagesCarlos Sainz, WilliamsCarlos Sainz, WilliamsGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty ImagesPierre Gasly, AlpinePierre Gasly, AlpineSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty ImagesArthur Leclerc, Scuderia FerrariArthur Leclerc, Scuderia FerrariJayce Illman / Getty ImagesLewis Hamilton, FerrariLewis Hamilton, FerrariAhmad AlShehab / NurPhoto via Getty ImagesMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty ImagesFranco Colapinto, AlpineFranco Colapinto, AlpineSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty ImagesJenson ButtonJenson ButtonAhmad AlShehab / NurPhoto via Getty ImagesGabriel Bortoleto, SauberGabriel Bortoleto, SauberGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty ImagesAlexander Albon, WilliamsAlexander Albon, WilliamsSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty ImagesOliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamOliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty ImagesCharles Leclerc, FerrariCharles Leclerc, FerrariSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty ImagesCarlos Sainz, WilliamsCarlos Sainz, WilliamsGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty ImagesPierre Gasly, AlpinePierre Gasly, AlpineSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty ImagesGabriel Bortoleto, SauberGabriel Bortoleto, SauberSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty ImagesIsack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamIsack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty ImagesCharles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, FerrariCharles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, FerrariGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty ImagesMika HakkinenMika HakkinenSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty ImagesEsteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamEsteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty ImagesOscar Piastri, McLarenOscar Piastri, McLarenPeter Fox / Getty ImagesMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingPeter Fox / Getty ImagesLando Norris, McLarenLando Norris, McLarenPeter Fox / Getty ImagesYuki Tsunoda, Red Bull RacingYuki Tsunoda, Red Bull RacingPeter Fox / Getty ImagesEsteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamEsteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty ImagesGeorge Russell, MercedesGeorge Russell, MercedesPeter Fox / Getty ImagesMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty ImagesOscar Piastri, McLarenOscar Piastri, McLarenMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty ImagesLewis Hamilton, FerrariLewis Hamilton, FerrariBeata Zawrzel / NurPhoto via Getty ImagesMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty ImagesLewis Hamilton, FerrariLewis Hamilton, FerrariMark Thompson / Getty ImagesAlexander Albon, WilliamsAlexander Albon, WilliamsZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty ImagesLando Norris, McLarenLando Norris, McLarenClive Mason / Getty Images Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari crashLewis Hamilton, Ferrari crashMark Thompson / Getty ImagesCar of Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari after his crashCar of Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari after his crashBeata Zawrzel / NurPhoto via Getty ImagesLewis Hamilton, FerrariLewis Hamilton, FerrariSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty ImagesLewis Hamilton, Ferrari after his crashLewis Hamilton, Ferrari after his crashMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty ImagesGeorge Russell, MercedesGeorge Russell, MercedesSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty ImagesLando Norris, McLarenLando Norris, McLarenClive Mason / Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty ImagesLiam Lawson, Racing Bulls TeamLiam Lawson, Racing Bulls TeamGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty ImagesGeorge Russell, MercedesGeorge Russell, MercedesClive Mason / Getty Images Lando Norris, McLarenLando Norris, McLarenZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty ImagesMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty ImagesFernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingFernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingClive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty ImagesCharles Leclerc, FerrariCharles Leclerc, FerrariAndy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty ImagesEsteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Alexander Albon, WilliamsEsteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Alexander Albon, WilliamsJayce Illman / Getty ImagesMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty ImagesFernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingFernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty ImagesMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingPeter Fox / Getty ImagesLewis Hamilton, FerrariLewis Hamilton, FerrariAndrej Isakovic / AFP via Getty ImagesMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingClive Mason / Getty Images Lando Norris, McLarenLando Norris, McLarenZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty ImagesLando Norris, McLarenLando Norris, McLarenZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty ImagesGabriel Bortoleto, SauberGabriel Bortoleto, SauberGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty ImagesOscar Piastri, McLarenOscar Piastri, McLarenClive Mason / Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingBryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty ImagesLando Norris, McLarenLando Norris, McLarenBryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty ImagesCharles Leclerc, FerrariCharles Leclerc, FerrariMario Renzi – Formula 1 – Getty ImagesLando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingLando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingBryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty ImagesLewis Hamilton, FerrariLewis Hamilton, FerrariBryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty ImagesLando Norris, McLarenLando Norris, McLarenBryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty ImagesLewis Hamilton, FerrariLewis Hamilton, FerrariPeter Fox / Getty ImagesMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMax Verstappen, Red Bull RacingBryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty Images
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