Lando Norris is feeling let down by not securing pole position for the Abu Dhabi title decider. Despite this, he remains focused on ending the season with a victory. Holding a 12-point lead in the Drivers'
Championship, Norris will start second, trailing Max Verstappen. Norris was 0.201 seconds slower than Verstappen in qualifying but outpaced his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, who starts third and is also vying for the title.
A podium finish would make Norris the 11th British world champion. However, any mistake could be costly. If Verstappen wins and Norris finishes fourth, Verstappen will clinch his fifth consecutive title. Norris topped both practice sessions on Friday but couldn't maintain that form in qualifying, leaving him frustrated with his performance.
Norris expressed his disappointment: "It's tough. It's tough. Max did a good job, so congrats to him. We did everything we could. I think my lap was pretty good, I was pretty happy. " He acknowledged the challenge of not being fast enough for pole but remains hopeful for Sunday.
Norris noted that he expected a closer battle in Q3 with Piastri, but Verstappen's pace was unmatched. "Max was too far ahead—they were too fast," he said. Despite this setback, Norris believes they maximised their potential and looks forward to Sunday's race as a new opportunity.
Piastri has a slimmer chance at the title compared to Norris. To win, he must secure victory on Sunday while hoping Norris finishes sixth or lower. If Piastri finishes second, Norris needs to be tenth or worse without Verstappen on the podium.
The starting front three at the Yas Marina Circuit #McLaren | #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/6bnIZMSUXE
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) December 6, 2025
Reflecting on last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix win, Norris hopes for a repeat performance this Sunday despite never winning twice at the same venue in Formula One. "It's just always nice to end the season on top like we did last year," he said.
Piastri shared his thoughts: "[We were] just not quite quick enough, but it sets up a pretty exciting day tomorrow. " He feels more comfortable with the car and believes they are well-positioned despite not matching Verstappen's speed.
Norris is determined to replicate last year's success and finish strong this season. He emphasised feeling good about their chances and plans to approach Sunday's race as usual, aiming for another victory to cap off the year positively.
