India, Dec. 6 -- Max Verstappen is as relaxed as he can be. With 12 points behind championship leader Lando Norris, the Red Bull driver knows he is not the favourite for the 2025 Formula 1 crown. A win at Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix alone will not give him his fifth successive title.

But what gives him the added benefit is that he's been there, done it. Not once, but four times. That freedom to go for it without worrying about risks unshackled him and allowed him to push even harder to deliver a scorching lap (1:22.207) to claim pole - his eighth of the year and 48th of career - in a tense Saturday qualifying, ahead of Norris (1:22.408) and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri (1:22.437).

"It's a massive advantage because Max is like 'i...