Max Verstappen on pole after qualifying in Abu Dhabi: 'Everything came together'

Published on 12 December 2020 by Kees-Jan Koster

Max Verstappen qualified on pole fort he Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. With a 1:35.246 the Dutchman kept both Valtteri Bottas (P2) and Lewis Hamilton (P3) narrowly behind, overcoming the supremacy of the Mercedes powered cars for the first time this season. It will be the third time in Verstappen’s Formula 1 career to start the race from first position on the grid.

“Before qualifying I said it will be the final send of the season and we did that. I am very happy with that”, says a satisfied Verstappen afterwards. “It was quite a tricky qualifying in the beginning to get my laps in. Especially in the last sector there are so many corners where you can make a mistake. But luckily everything came together in that final lap.”

A good result, showing the hard work Aston Martin Red Bull Racing and Honda have done: “It has been a long season for everyone, especially with a lot of races in a row. To have pole position here is a great motivation for everyone in the team to try and finish it off tomorrow. I hope we can set a new world record pitstop tomorrow, that would be very nice. But with this result today we are very happy.”

Looking forward to the race tomorrow, Max says: “I don’t think anyone has done many laps, so we have to see what is going to happen. Begin on pole does not automatically mean we are going to win, but I will give it everything and we will see. Of course, I have two Mercedes behind me, but it looks like our top speed is okay. Hopefully that helps tomorrow.”

The lights are on at the Yas Marina Circuit when the drivers come out for the last qualifying session of the season. Max Verstappen sets a 1:36.807 on his first flying lap. After two slow laps to recharge the batteries of the RB16, the Dutchman goes again. He improves to a 1:35.993, which is good for P2, three tenths behind Valtteri Bottas.

Max does not come out again for the rest of the first part of qualifying and goes through to Q2 in second position. Kimi Räikkönen, Kevin Magnussen, George Russell, Pietro Fittipaldi and Nicholas Latifi drop out of Q1.

At the start of the second part of qualifying everyone expect Lando Norris, Antonio Giovinazzi and the AlphaTauri and Racing Point drivers leaves the pitlane on the yellow marked medium tyres. After the first runs Lewis Hamilton leads with a 1:35.466. Verstappen is in fifth position with a 1:36.236, when the lap times of teammate Alexander Albon and Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo are deleted because of exceeding track limits.

Max goes out one more time at the end of Q2 on a new set of the medium tyres and improves his time to a 1:35.641 (P2). The gap to Lewis Hamilton on first position is only two tenths. Esteban Ocon, Daniel Ricciardo, Sebastian Vettel, Antonio Giovinazzi and Sergio Pérez (the latter did not come out) do not make it and the five drop out.

Daniil Kvyat sets the first time in Q3 with a 1:36.451, but this time is soon improved by most of the other drivers. Verstappen sets a 1:35.519 and splits the two Mercedes, with Valtteri Bottas one tenth ahead on provisional pole. Lewis Hamilton (+0.135) and Alexander Albon (+0.156) are in third and fourth position respectively.

In the final phase of the third qualifying session the drivers go once more. Both Valtteri Bottas (1:35.271) and Lewis Hamilton (1:35.332) improve their times, but as a jack-in-the-box Max goes quicker and takes pole position. For the first time this season breaking the supremacy of the Mercedes powered cars. Lando Norris takes P4, with Alexander Albon (P5) and Carlos Sainz (P6) on the third row of the grid.

Contest Abu Dhabi GP: win a by Max signed cap or a 1:43 scale model!

Results qualifying Abu-dhabi: