Two cars in Q3! 💪 Really solid show from the team today. Let’s race hard on Sunday. #AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/uLEPK9Iai2

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) November 19, 2022

After some solid work on set-up and balacning on Friday, as well as additional steps overnight, team McLaren adopted an approach of fine tuning and working out the best strategy to qualifying.

As the lights went out for qualifying, Lando Norris managed a quickest time of 1:25.387 on the soft-tyre compound managed to make P5 bringing him into Q2.

In Q2, still on the soft-tyre compound, managed to quicken the time to 1:24.903 but dropped one place to P6 managing to bring the car to the final stage of qualifying.

Q3, the top 10 shootout. Sees Norris going faster and faster and managed to go two tenths quicker with a 1:24.769 but dropped another place lower crossing the finish line in P7.

Wonderful feeling to get both cars to Q3, the margins were close in all three sessions.

Both Norris and Ricciardo had the performance to finish in the top 10.

The team noticed the long run pace seemed fair and looking to make good use of it in tomorrow's season finale.

Ricciardo who has a three-grid place penalty, will have to battle it out to get back into contention.

It will be an exciting race with the projected strategy possibilities, so everything is up for grabs.

Post-qualifying, Norris comments, "A good quali.

I think I got everything out of the car today, so I’m happy.

I struggled a bit, not having enough confidence to push the car, but at the same time, we secured the best position we could.

We’ve got a good starting place, let’s convert it into some good points tomorrow.”

Saturdays in Q3 together... 🥰🧡#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/eoY58IK5Js

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) November 19, 2022