The stage is set for a high-stakes and potentially explosive qualifying session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after a dramatic final practice on Saturday. FP3 at the Yas Marina Circuit was punctuated by a red flag, a pit lane collision, and the emergence of a surprise contender for pole position.
Russell Edges Norris in Tight FP3 Battle
George Russell topped the timesheets for Mercedes, setting the fastest lap in the final practice session. His time was a mere four-thousandths of a second quicker than that of McLaren's Lando Norris, highlighting the incredibly tight margins at the front of the grid. Russell has shown strong pace throughout the weekend's practice runs, leading Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff to publicly back the 27-year-old as a genuine contender for pole position later today.
Championship leader Lando Norris remains in a formidable position. The Bristol-born driver, who led both Friday sessions, was agonisingly close to Russell's benchmark. Norris only requires a podium finish in Sunday's race to secure his maiden World Championship title, and starting from the front row would significantly boost those prospects.
Verstappen's Struggles and On-Track Incidents
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen's quest for a fourth title hit another hurdle. The Red Bull driver finished behind Norris for the third consecutive practice session and voiced clear frustrations over his car's handling. Complaining of a persistent bouncing issue, Verstappen told race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, "The problem is that the car still jumps. I can't keep my feet on the pedals."
The session was red-flagged after a crash for Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time champion's difficult season continued as he lost control at Turn Nine, spinning into the barriers and causing significant damage to the front-right of his Mercedes. Hamilton reported to his engineer, Riccardo Adami, that "something buckled at the front and snapped the rear" leading to the impact.
Further drama unfolded in the pit lane, where an incident involving Mercedes junior driver Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda is under investigation by the stewards. Antonelli was released into the path of Tsunoda, causing contact that inflicted substantial damage to the Japanese driver's RB21 and ended his session prematurely.
Mercedes Vows Neutrality in Title Decider
Away from the track action, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff made a significant pledge regarding the championship fight. Despite supplying power units to the McLaren team, Wolff insisted the Silver Arrows would remain strictly neutral in the three-way battle for the drivers' crown.
"We have to keep out of this," Wolff stated to Sky Sports F1. "This is a three-way fight between three drivers. The Constructors' Championship has been won by McLaren with our power unit. May the best man win tomorrow." This declaration sets the scene for a clean and fiercely competitive finale to the 2025 Formula 1 season at the Yas Marina Circuit.
