During the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying session, Max Verstappen narrowly avoided disaster in the final corner of the Yas Marina circuit. Thanks to an impressive maneuver to steer clear of the wall after a major loss of control, the Red Bull driver still managed to complete his lap in one piece.
This performance, far from ideal, reflects Red Bull’s struggles to tame their car on this circuit. Meanwhile, in the Constructors’ Championship battle, McLaren locked out the front row of the starting grid.
Read more:
- Ferrari cursed in Abu Dhabi as a simple battery change shatters their hope of winning the Formula 1 World Championship
- Top 3 major changes set to propel the 2025 Le Mans 24h into a bold new era
Verstappen’s F1 car hard to handle
Max Verstappen came dangerously close to slamming his F1 car into the wall at the final corner of his first Q3 lap, providing a heart-stopping moment during Abu Dhabi qualifying. A dramatic 45-degree slide, caused by an unstable Red Bull, tested the Dutch driver’s reflexes as he saved the car. It’s nothing short of a miracle—or rather a feat—because when a driver loses control of their F1 car here, they inevitably end up in the wall. And at this speed, a head-on crash can have devastating consequences. Despite the incident, Verstappen temporarily claimed provisional pole before dropping to fifth as the session progressed. The Dutchman admitted that the entire weekend had been tough. “The car lacked consistency in several corners,” he explained. Adjustments to the front wing before his second run only made things worse, preventing him from fully exploiting the RB20’s potential. While Verstappen believes he could have fought for a front-row start, he acknowledged McLaren was simply untouchable.
How did Max save that and still go quickest?! 🤯#F1 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/PoUHkT9UWs
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 7, 2024
McLaren continues to impress
Abu Dhabi qualifying confirmed one thing: McLaren is on fire. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri secured the top two spots, sealing a front-row lockout. Their one-lap consistency and incredible race pace have maximized their chances of clinching the Constructors’ Championship the following day. For context, McLaren leads Ferrari by 21 points heading into the race. As for Verstappen, who ended up behind Carlos Sainz and Nico Hülkenberg (though the latter received a three-place grid penalty post-session), competing with McLaren this Sunday seems unlikely. “They’re fast—way faster than us this weekend,” Verstappen admitted, adding that his focus would be on battling Ferrari for a podium finish. This is a stark contrast to the Qatar Grand Prix, where Red Bull managed to compensate for their weaknesses.
A promising 2025 Formula 1 season
This final weekend of the season highlights Red Bull’s challenges throughout the year. Verstappen emphasized that the RB20’s recurring balance issues made his job harder and limited its performance in critical corners. “If we fix this, the car will be much more competitive next year,” he said. With McLaren on the rise and Ferrari still in the mix, Red Bull must find solutions to reclaim their status as the dominant team. This season, marked by many highs but also plenty of lows—and at least three teams vying for wins at every race—hints at a thrilling 2025 season for Formula 1.
This article explores Verstappen’s near-miss during Abu Dhabi qualifying, McLaren’s impressive dominance, and the adjustments Red Bull needs to make for next season. A high-stakes finale to cap off a memorable 2024 season.
Image: Getty Images – Red Bull Content pool
