Max Verstappen takes pole position in the last race of the year, a key step in the championship fight as in the last five years, the poleman always converted the starting P1 into a win.

He achieved this result also thanks to the teamwork with Red Bull colleague Sergio Perez, as the drivers gave each other tows while setting their times in Q3 and managing to start in P1 and P4 respectively.

AMAZING! Pole is simply the best way to start the final race💪 Great team effort👌Thank you, @SChecoPerez, @redbullracing and @hondaracingf1 for the push 👊 #AbuDhabiGP🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/1p1vUCdvLx

— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) December 11, 2021

Team Principal Christian Horner was extremely pleased with the Dutchman's performance, as he said to Sky:"I think that's one of Max's best laps of the year."

He went on to explain that, while the help from Perez was important, it wasn't the main reason Verstappen got his tenth seasonal pole, and was also crowned Poleman of the Year.

"The tow, even on the following lap that we got him to back off on, he matched the time, and the tow was probably worth a tenth or two, not half a second. I think that his last sector, when you look at the level of downforce he's got on, is insane. It's absolutely insane."

He added that it was the best way to equalise title rival Mercedes's best pace on the straights, as they had worked out earlier in the day:

"We discussed the slipstream this morning. We lowered the downforce, it was the only way to match [Mercedes] on the straights. Q2 came more towards us, and then both runs in Q3 were exceptional."

1991 ← 10 poles for @HondaRacingF1 → 2021 #PoweredByHonda pic.twitter.com/bIUHG4FA0R

— Red Bull Racing Honda (@redbullracing) December 11, 2021

Horner complimented the ability and the attitude of teamwork and sacrifice towards a greater goal that his drivers proved this afternoon in Abu Dhabi:

"I think that Max, he's given everything and he's driving his heart out. He's thrown everything at this session. I think Checo has been the dutiful teammate. He sacrificed an optimal lap for him to give his teammate that performance. And I think that you can't ask for more than that," he said, highlighting the importance of Perez's action.

However, it won't be an easy start for the Red Bull driver, as he passed Q2 on softs due to a flat spot that damaged his medium tyres while setting laps. The Brit isn't too fazed by it, saying that the two strategy options were close anyways:

“To be honest with you, it was very much 50-50. We discussed it this morning and it was very much 50-50, so we are not overly upset starting on the softs," Horner explained.

"The medium is a bit more robust but the degradation in the race…it will be very interesting to see how that plays out. But track position I think, regarding degradation, is crucial.”

While the second consecutive pole at Yas Marina definitely puts Verstappen in a good position for tomorrow's decisive race, nothing is set in stone for the championship, as the points are given out tomorrow and, more than ever, it's important to focus on the race.

"So they put it on the pole. Now we've got to try and convert that tomorrow," Horner concluded.