For Mercedes, the session was a stark reminder of the challenges they’ve faced this season. Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, struggled to find the pace he needed, ultimately qualifying in a disappointing mid-grid position. The car’s setup appeared ill-suited to the circuit’s demands, with Hamilton voicing his concerns over team radio throughout the session. In post-qualifying remarks, Hamilton acknowledged the setback, saying, “It’s not the result we wanted, but we’ll push hard to maximize what we can tomorrow.”

George Russell, Hamilton’s teammate, fared slightly better but was unable to crack the top five. Russell, who has shown promise in his second season with Mercedes, echoed similar frustrations about the car’s performance. “We’ve been fighting the balance all weekend, and it caught up to us in qualifying,” Russell admitted. The struggles highlight a concerning end to the season for Mercedes, which had hoped to close the gap to Red Bull and Ferrari.

In stark contrast, McLaren had plenty to celebrate. Lando Norris delivered a scintillating lap to secure pole position, showcasing the significant strides McLaren has made in the latter half of the season. Norris described the achievement as “one of the best laps of my career,” and his performance has sparked hopes for a strong finish for the team. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, also delivered an impressive result, reinforcing McLaren’s position as a rising contender.

Red Bull, despite their dominance throughout the season, faced unexpected competition in qualifying. Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, managed to secure a front-row start but was visibly irked by Norris’s blistering pace. Verstappen admitted, “We didn’t nail everything today, but we’re still in a good position for the race.” Sergio Perez, however, failed to match his teammate’s performance, qualifying outside the top five, which may add fuel to speculation about his future with the team.

The stage is set for a gripping finale to the season. While Norris will aim to convert his pole position into victory, Mercedes will hope for strategic brilliance to salvage a strong result. With multiple storylines unfolding, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix promises to deliver a fitting conclusion to an action-packed F1 season.