MAX VERSTAPPEN soared to pole position to put a dent in Lando Norris’ title hopes and spice up tomorrow’s blockbuster season finale.
The Dutchman roared “let’s f***ing go guys, that was insane” after quali, with his most likely route to lifting the driver’s title being a first place finish with Norris in P4 or lower.
It is still a big ask with British 26-year-old Norris bagging P2 and only needing to finish on the podium to win his first ever world championship regardless of other results.
Meanwhile his McLaren teammate Piastri scooped up third ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell in P4.
Norris leads Verstappen by 12 points in the driver’s standings, and an extra four over Piastri going into this Sunday’s sizzling decider.
Verstappen said: “We found a bit more lap time and I am incredibly happy to be in first. That’s the only thing we can do, we can control, to maximise what we have and what we can with the car and we definitely did that in qualifying.”
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It was first blood to Piastri in Q1 as he went fastest above Verstappen and then Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, while Norris had to settle for sixth.
Brit 28-year-old Russell stirred the pot, leading the field for Q2 ahead of Verstappen in second and Norris in third.
It got even spicier in the final session as Verstappen blitzed to provisional pole while Piastri bagged second and Norris took third after a small mistake on Turn One.
He then went even QUICKER on his final lap to confirm pole position, with the two McLarens fighting tooth and nail to pip him but coming up short.
Verstappen’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda handed him a boost with a cheeky tow down the back straights for the Dutchman’s first lap.
Meanwhile was a miserable day for Hamilton who was booted out in 16th having also suffered a big crash in the final practice session.
He said “I’m so sorry” to his race engineer after his qualifying woes.
With 27 mins to go in FP3 there had been a big crash for Hamilton who lost control of his Ferrari and spun into the barrier at high speed.
Hamilton safely clambered out of the car but it was a sad sight then watching the seven-time world champion pick up a piece of his broken off front wing and place it with the Ferrari.
The British 40-year-old said on his team radio: “Something buckled at the front and snapped the rear.”
Norris had also been feeling the heat in practise as he nearly CRASHED into the back of Yuki Tsunoda in the final practice session on Saturday.
Norris said: “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. Of course disappointed to not be on pole for the final weekend but we were just not fast enough today, so we will try and do it tomorrow.”
Asked how will he now approach the race on Sunday, Norris said: “The time will come I think of that but, for now, disappointed to not be on pole.
“I still want to win tomorrow so that’s going to be the goal.”
