Lando Norris says he is "disappointed" not to be in pole position for the title decider in Abu Dhabi, but is determined to finish the season with a win.

The Brit, who holds a 12-point lead at the top of the Drivers' Championship standings heading into the finale, will start in second, behind title rival Max Verstappen.

Norris finished 0.201 seconds behind the Dutchman in qualifying, but is ahead of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, who is also still in the fight to lift the title, and he will start in third.

A podium finish will be enough for Norris to become the 11th British driver to be world champion, but he knows any slip could cost him. If Verstappen wins and Norris finishes fourth, the Red Bull driver will claim a fifth consecutive title.

Norris had been top of the timesheet for both of Friday's practice sessions, but could not convert that into qualifying, and he was left frustrated by the performance.

"It's tough. 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," he said.

"Of course, I'm disappointed not to be on pole for the final weekend, but we just weren't fast enough, so we'll have to try and do it [on Sunday].

"I expected it to be a lot closer into Q3, and the quali battle then was between me and Oscar.

"Max was too far ahead – they were too fast. We didn't quite have the speed in the car. A tough one to take, but otherwise, I think we got everything out of it. I think Oscar said he did a pretty good lap, and I thought I did a pretty good lap. Just not fast enough come qualifying, but tomorrow's a new day."

The starting front three at the Yas Marina Circuit #McLaren | #AbuDhabiGP  pic.twitter.com/6bnIZMSUXE

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) December 6, 2025

Norris won at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year, and he is hoping for a similar result on Sunday, despite never achieving two victories in the same Formula One race.

"It's just always nice to end the season on top like we did last year," Norris added. "We didn't win the [Drivers'] Championship last year, but it was just nice to end with a win.

"That's what I would like to do, in either of our cases. I feel good, and we'll go in and do everything the same as normal."

Piastri, meanwhile, has a slimmer chance of winning the title than his team-mate. He would need to win on Sunday and hope Norris finishes sixth or lower.

If he finishes second, Norris would need to be down in 10th or below, with Verstappen also not claiming a podium finish.

"[We were] just not quite quick enough, but it sets up a pretty exciting day tomorrow," Piastri said.

"I felt much happier with the car, and I felt like I was driving a lot better as well, which helps. I think we're in a reasonable place with that.

"Obviously, it was not quite quick enough to beat Max, but I think we did everything we could."