Overview
- Lando Norris starts second behind Max Verstappen and needs at least third place to seal the championship, with Oscar Piastri third as a long-shot contender.
- Verstappen and team analysts concede he likely needs others to pressure Norris, with suggestions of backing up the field viewed as harder with current cars and the Yas Marina layout.
- McLaren has signaled it will order a position swap to favor Norris if Piastri’s title chance fades, while Piastri says he must rely on unexpected race events.
- Tyre management looms large, with right-front graining and overheating in the final sector shaping whether teams commit to one or potentially two stops.
- Key qualifying notes: George Russell P4, Charles Leclerc P5, Fernando Alonso P6; Lewis Hamilton exited in Q1 after an FT3 crash and bouncing concerns; Yuki Tsunoda provided an early Q3 tow as rookie Gabriel Bortoleto impressed in P7.