Formula One has raced at 23 races across 5 continents in 2025, but the FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX 2025 was perhaps the most important of the season. By the end of the 58 laps under the floor lights around the Yas Marina Circuit, a driver would be crowned champion of the world. Three drivers had a chance to secure the title and made up the top three places on the starting grid, but only one could be victorious.
Oscar Piastri had the biggest mountain to climb if he hoped to be crowned champion. Despite leading much of the season, a recent decline in results saw him drop to third in the standings, which was also his starting position for what could be the most important race of his career. Teammate Lando Norris was in a much better position, starting from P2 on the front row. He hadn’t led the championship since Bahrain, but somehow found his way to the top of the standings only a few races from the end. He was not on pole, but a win would not be necessary to secure the title, as he would only need a P3 finish. Max Verstappen had track position on pole, but would still need something to happen behind to win the title. It’s a miracle he was in the running for the title at all, having been as far as 104 points behind the leader, with many counting him out. But unlike his two McLaren rivals, he knows what it takes to win the championship, having done so four times already.
The stage was set for a thrilling conclusion to Formula One’s 76th season.
Verstappen had a poor initial launch from pole, moving immediately to cover Norris on the run to the first corner. The top three maintained their positions in the opening corner. Oscar Piastri faced initial pressure from Charles Leclerc, who had benefitted from George Russell’s horrendous start that dropped him behind Fernando Alonso. Leclerc had the slightest look at Piastri on the inside of turn five.
The Australian responded by making a brave move around the outside of his teammate in turn nine to take a P2, dropping Norris to the bare minimum required for him to win the championship. Leclerc was all over the back of Norris in the opening laps, helped by the DRS. Norris eventually pulled away from the Ferrari.
Norris pitted for hard tyres on lap 17, rejoining behind Kimi Antonelli. Leclerc followed Norris into the pits as well. The Mercedes was at the back of a DRS train led by Liam Lawson, complicating Norris’ outlap. After a couple of laps, he managed to fight his way through the train, ending with a great double overtake on Lance Stroll and Lawson into turn six. Lawson attempted to fight back on the outside of turn nine, but couldn’t get by the McLaren. Leclerc also fought his way through the DRS train, even replicating Norris’ double overtake in turn six a lap later.
This left Norris to chase down Yuki Tsunoda. The Red Bull driver, who will not be driving next year, was told over the team radio to do all he could against the McLaren driver. Tsunoda did his best, weaving down the back straight to try and break the slipstream. Norris moved to overtake on the right side, but a late move by Tsunoda forced Norris to overtake off the circuit. Tsunoda let Leclerc by on the following lap in the same location with virtually no contention.
The incident was investigated by the stewards. Tsunoda was investigated for forcing another driver off the circuit, while Norris was investigated for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. With Tsunoda no longer directly behind Norris, a guilty verdict would have meant a five-second penalty for the championship leader, which could have played a huge role in the championship battle. McLaren fans were surely holding their breath while the stewards deliberated. After a few tense laps, the stewards gave Tsunoda a five-second penalty for more than one change of direction, taking no further action on Norris.
Verstappen made his pit stop on lap 24, leaving Piastri to lead the race. McLaren opted to split the strategy between their two drivers, starting Piastri on the hard tyres. This allowed him to run long and hope for a safety car. It didn’t come. Verstappen overtook Piastri on lap 41, and Piastri pitted at the end of the lap.
Leclerc made a second pit stop on lap 40, exchanging his hard tyres for a second set of medium tyres. He rejoined the race behind Russell. Norris responded by pitting on the following lap, fitting a second set of hard tyres, which was all McLaren had available in their arsenal. Critically, Norris did not lose track position, rejoining comfortably ahead of Russell and Leclerc.
As the laps ticked down, the championship dreams of Verstappen and Piastri faded. Max Verstappen ended the season on a high by crossing the finish line first ahead of Oscar Piastri, but a podium finish ensured that Lando Norris would be the season’s World Drivers’ Championship winner by only two points.
With that, a spectacular 2025 season comes to an end. It’s the end of an era, with big regulation changes coming next year, which will see eleven teams line up on the starting grid. Although the racing is over, make sure to keep up to date with the biggest F1 headlines with our Weekly F1 Recap series.
| Pos. | Driver | Laps | Time | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 58 | 1:26:07.469 | 25 | ||
| 2 | 58 | +12.594 | 18 | ||
| 3 | 58 | +16.572 | 15 | ||
| 4 | 58 | +23.279 | 12 |  | |
| 5 | 58 | +48.563 | 10 | ||
| 6 | 58 | +67.562 | 8 | ||
| 7 | 58 | +69.876 | 6 | ||
| 8 | 58 | +72.670 | 4 | ||
| 9 | 58 | +74.523 | 2 | ||
| 10 | 58 | +76.166 | 1 | ||
| 11 | 58 | +79.014 | |||
| 12 | 58 | +81.043 | |||
| 13 | 58 | +82.158 | |||
| 14 | 58 | +83.794 | |||
| 15 | 58 | +84.399 | |||
| 16 | 58 | +90.327 | |||
| 17 | 57 | +1 Lap | |||
| 18 | 57 | +1 Lap | |||
| 19 | 57 | +1 Lap | |||
| 20 | 57 | +1 Lap |
| 1 | L. Norris | 423 |  | |
| 2 | M. Verstappen | 421 | -2 |  |
| 3 | O. Piastri | 410 | -13 | |
| 4 | G. Russell | 319 | -104 | |
| 5 | C. Leclerc | 242 | -181 | |
| 1 | McLaren | 833 | | |
| 2 | Mercedes | 469 | -364 | |
| 3 | Red Bull | 451 | -382 | |
| 4 | Ferrari | 398 | -435 | |
| 5 | Williams | 137 | -696 | |
