The 2025 Formula 1 season concludes this weekend in what will be a thrilling and dramatic conclusion to the championship with all of Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri in contention to win the drivers’ title.
Norris, the current leader, is the favourite despite errors from McLaren in the previous race in Qatar which meant he could only secure a fourth-placed finish and allowed Red Bull’s Verstappen to close the gap to just 12.
Verstappen will need to heavily outscore Norris in order to lift his fifth title and will be targeting another win at a circuit where he has triumphed in four of the last five years. However, McLaren’s Norris took the crown last season and knows that another victory will win him a first world title.
Adding into the mix is Norris’s teammate Piastri. The Australian has led the drivers championship throughout this season but a points deficit of 16 means he must win and hope Norris has an off day. All three title contenders will address the media today ahead of the Abu Dhabi GP weekend beginning in earnest on Friday.
Follow all the latest F1 news and updates ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix:
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- Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri speak to media ahead of Abu Dhabi GP
- Both McLaren drivers and Verstappen can still win drivers title
- Norris leads Verstappen by 12 points and aims to win first ever world title
- Norris takes swipe at McLaren critics: 'people want chaos'
F1 2026 grid: Who are the drivers racing next season?
13:40 , Kieran JacksonThe 2026 Formula One season starts on 8 March in Australia – and the driver line-up for next year is beginning to take shape.
While numerous teams have long-term agreements with their drivers – such as McLaren, Ferrari and Williams – some teams are yet to confirm their two drivers in the cockpit for 2026.
Max Verstappen confirmed in July he will be staying at Red Bull next year, while Mercedes have now announced contract extensions for George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
F1 2025 season awards: Why Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari is by far the biggest disappointment
13:20 , Kieran JacksonThe F1 drivers’ championship comes down to the final race in Abu Dhabi this weekend, with Lando Norris primed for a maiden title and hoping to fend off Red Bull’s four-time champion Max Verstappen and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.
While the drama has been at the front of the grid, the woeful year for Ferrari, and in particular Lewis Hamilton, has been a painful storyline for fans of the seven-time world champion and the Scuderia.
F1 2025 season awards including why Hamilton is biggest disappointment
How can Max Verstappen win the 2025 F1 world championship?
13:00 , Kieran JacksonLando Norris has a 12-point lead over Max Verstappen, who is now in second place. Oscar Piastri is a further four points back, 16 off his teammate.
A minimum third place (15 points) in Abu Dhabi would give Norris an unassailable 27-point lead.
Fourth place (12 points) would give Norris a 24-point lead and, thus, if Verstappen then won the race, the Dutchman would take the title by one point.
Alternatively, put simply, Verstappen needs to score 13 more points than Norris.
Twelve more points would put them level but, unless Verstappen won (in which case he’d win the title anyway if Norris finished off the podium) they would both be tied on countback on seven wins each. It then goes to second-place finishes, where Norris has the advantage with eight compared to Verstappen’s five.
George Russell: ‘McLaren must accept fate and not interfere in F1 title race’
12:50 , Mike JonesGeorge Russell says McLaren should not implement team orders and opt against interfering in this Sunday’s F1 title-decider in Abu Dhabi.
McLaren’s Lando Norris leads the world championship by 12 points to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, while Norris’s teammate Oscar Piastri is a further four points off in third place.
With Norris only needing a podium to secure his maiden title, it has been suggested that McLaren could instruct Piastri to allow Norris past, should the necessity arise, in Sunday’s race.
George Russell: ‘McLaren must accept fate and not interfere in F1 title race’
How can Oscar Piastri win the 2025 F1 world championship?
12:38 , Kieran JacksonOscar Piastri missed the opportunity to close the gap even further to teammate Lando Norris in the race for the F1 world championship after a McLaren strategy blunder in Qatar.
Norris has a 12-point lead over Max Verstappen, who is now in second place. Piastri is a further four points back, 16 off his teammate.
Piastri has a difficult task now. Put simply: he needs to score 17 more points than Norris and five more points than Verstappen to guarantee the title. At a minimum, he must finish in second place or higher to have a chance.
What could this look like in reality? If Piastri wins the grand prix, Norris would have to finish in sixth place or lower and Verstappen in second place or lower.
If Piastri finishes second, he’d need Norris to finish ninth or lower and Verstappen to finish fourth or lower. If Piastri finishes third or lower, he will not win the championship.
Lando Norris opens up on F1 title-deciding weekend
12:10 , Jack Rathborn"Same as every weekend! Nothing changes. Some reviews of last weekend, the same after every weekend.
"Some obvious things, the mistakes we made, and less obvious things. But that's normal.
"Nothing changes. It gets treated for everyone inside the team, just more excitement.
"The work and approach remains the same."
Sebastian Vettel tips ‘scary’ Max Verstappen to spark Abu Dhabi shock
12:01 , Jack Rathborn“The scary thing is, he’s getting better,” Vettel said on the Beyond the Grid podcast. “He’s still hungry, still willing to learn.
“In situations where it matters, he keeps his head. He hardly ever makes a mistake and delivers when it counts.
“Yes,” the German added when pushed over whether Verstappen would feel less pressure. “Because he’s won the championships.”
Oscar Piastri on McLaren team orders
11:50 , Jack Rathborn"It's not something we have discussed. Until I know what's expected. I don't have an answer until I know what's expected."
Lando Norris not thinking about F1 championship
11:43 , Jack Rathborn"I've not been in this situation before. At the minute, I feel good. I don't think of it at all until people ask,” Norris says.
"I come into the weekend not thinking of it. Just playing some golf, being with my mates and I look forward to doing that on Monday, whether I'm hungover or not!
"I will treat it the same. It's the same as the last few weeks. I've still felt comfortable and felt good in the car."
Norris on potential for Piastri letting him through to win F1 title
11:40 , Jack Rathborn"It hasn't been discussed. Honestly, I would love it!
"But I don't think I would ask it because.. I don't know. I don't know.
"It's up to Oscar if he would allow it. I don't think it's necessarily down to me.
"It's the same if it was the other way around. Would I be willing or not?
"Personally I think I would because I feel like I'm always like that and that's how I am.
"It's not really up to me. I don't want to ask it because I don't think it's necessarily a fair question. If that's how it ends and Max wins, then, that's it. Congrats to him and we look forward to next year. It doesn't change anything."
Max Verstappen discusses mindset before F1 title showdown
11:37 , Jack Rathborn"I'm very relaxed. Nothing to lose. I'm just enjoying being here,” Verstappen adds.
"For me, it's not even about being here. I've been enjoying the season half of the season, working with the team, how we have been able to turn it around from difficult times.
"Just enjoying, smiling, having these wins again is fantastic, so just take it.
"For me, everything here is a bonus. Sitting here and fighting for the title makes it very straightforward
"We will just try to have a good weekend. Even then, it's not really in my control so, I just try to enjoy it."
Max Verstappen without parents in Abu Dhabi
11:20 , Kieran Jackson in Abu DhabiWhile Norris and Piastri reveal both parents will be here this weekend, Verstappen will be without his mum and dad on site:
“My dad is rallying in Africa, my Mum is home happy with the dogs. They were not expecting to be here, all plans cancelled after Zandvoort!”
Laughter across the room, a smile from Piastri. Nothing from Norris, cap down and head bowed.
Max Verstappen details preparation for F1 title showdown
11:12 , Kieran Jackson in Abu DhabiGiggles in the background amidst Verstappen’s typical dead-pan answer to how he’s preparing for this F1 season finale:
“I spent some time with my daughter, figure some stuff out for GT3, my sim team, pretty simple stuff,” remarks the four-time champion.
Ah yes, anything but F1.
Norris, Verstappen and Piastri set to exchange verbals before F1 title showdown
11:08 , Kieran Jackson in Abu DhabiWe’ve had the starter - now very much the main event.
And it is absolutely rammed with people behind the camera, ready to hear from our championship protagonists.
Some nice jovial chat between the three of them before the camera starts rolling.
George Russell sends a strong message over social media abuse aimed at Kimi Antonelli
11:05 , Kieran Jackson in Abu DhabiGeorge Russell sends a strong message, when asked about the social media abuse Kimi Antonelli received after the Qatar GP:
“It obviously started with a Red Bull mistake, they apologised, and that can happen. But the people behind the keyboard should take a long hard look at themselves in the mirror, it’s completely unacceptable - I struggle to comprehend it to be honest.”
Hadjar, meanwhile, calls such abusers “idiots” while Leclerc condemned the fact these people face no consequences for their actions.
Russell and Leclerc pushed on impacting F1 title race
10:57 , Kieran Jackson in Abu DhabiRussell and Leclerc asked, again, about their potential impact on the championship this Sunday, writes the Independent’s F1 Correspondent Kieran Jackson in Abu Dhabi.
Both are clear-cut: they simply want to win, it’s still just a normal race for everyone else.
For Russell, in particular, it feels like he could have quite a big say at the top end on Sunday…
George Russell sounds McLaren warning over influencing F1 title race
10:51 , Kieran Jackson in Abu DhabiRussell is asked by Sky F1’s Craig Slater about McLaren potentially implementing team orders - he reemphasises what he told a group of us this morning, writes the Independent’s F1 Correspondent Kieran Jackson in Abu Dhabi.
“It wouldn’t be correct, given both are in with a shot,” remarks the Mercedes driver.
Hadjar delivers cryptic message after Red Bull promotion
10:45 , Kieran Jackson in Abu DhabiFirst session has just got going with Russell, Hadjar and Leclerc and there is barely space to move, with photographers hugging the sidelines and not a spare seat for the journalists behind the camera, writes the Independent’s F1 Correspondent Kieran Jackson in Abu Dhabi.
A cryptic Hadjar gets the first laugh of the day, oddly hesitant to reveal how exactly he found about his 2026 Red Bull seat.
Eventually, he says: “Helmut told me - he says I had to deliver.”
F1 standings after Qatar GP as Max Verstappen closes gap on Lando Norris
10:32 , Mike JonesLando Norris has seen his lead in the F1 driver’s world championship cut to 12 points after Max Verstappen triumphed in a highly dramatic Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday night.
Norris and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri got their strategy wrong during a safety car period at the start of the race, when they failed to stop and change tyres in what was a mandatory two-stop grand prix.
F1 standings after Qatar GP as Max Verstappen closes gap on Lando Norris
Bernie Ecclestone reveals why he believes Max Verstappen will pip 'cocky' Lando Norris to F1 title
10:28 , Jack Rathborn“I still believe Max will do it. He deserves it,” Ecclestone told Mail Sport. “I used to say Alain Prost was the best driver of all time, doing it on his own without a radio to the pit wall telling him what to do, but I think Max is the best I have known. He stands alone.
“Lando is fine, a really good driver, but he is over-confident, too cocky, believing his own publicity, but he gets nervous at crunch moments and can’t quite deliver the way Max can when the pressure is on.
“I said from the start of the season that Max would do it in the end, and I still believe that is the case. McLaren have been very helpful to Lando over Oscar, supporting him over the other guy, such as changing them around in Monza after Lando had a bad pit stop, and that way of working may yet be good for them, I don’t know. It’s not what I would have done. A bad pit stop is part of racing. You have to accept it, not engineer it.
“But you can never bet against Max. He is something special. He is one-off, and a super-nice guy, and I hope he gets the job done. He has nothing to lose, so that is also an advantage, too.”
Lando Norris takes swipe at McLaren critics
10:18 , Jack RathbornLando Norris has taken a swipe at critics of McLaren ahead of the F1 title showdown in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
”The team has certainly displeased a lot of people, because they've kept things very controlled and in a very good manner,” Norris told The Athletic. “That’s not what people want, people want chaos! They're like, 'Oh that’s not racing.'
"Well, there’s no prescription of what is. They let us race, we work together — it’s how we run as a team."
“There’s no 'we have to do this or that.' We’re finding our own way to what we think will make us the best team ever in F1. And we’re confident in that, which makes it even better.”
How can Lando Norris win the 2025 F1 world championship?
10:15 , Kieran JacksonLando Norris is still in position to win the 2025 F1 world championship despite finishing fourth in the Qatar GP.
The McLaren driver’s grip on the title was weakened last week in Las Vegas after a double disqualification and saw his lead suffer a further blow.
Norris has a 12-point lead over Verstappen, who is now in second place. Piastri is a further four points back, 16 off his teammate.
It is a normal race weekend in Abu Dhabi. Therefore, Norris will win the world championship if he finishes on the podium at the Yas Marina Circuit.
A minimum third place (15 points) in Abu Dhabi would give Norris an unassailable 27-point lead.
Verstappen excited for Abu Dhabi opportunity
10:09 , Mike JonesMax Verstappen revealed that he is excited by the prospect of having an ‘opportunity’ to win the drivers title in Abu Dhabi.
“I am excited and happy to go to Abu Dhabi and have a go at it,” he said after the Qatar Grand Prix.
“On pure pace we are not on the same level (as McLaren), but when strategy comes into play, or making the calls at the right time, we might have an opportunity.”
'I just try and beat them'
10:03 , Mike JonesJust after the Qatar Grand Prix finished, Lando Norris was asked how he will tackle the three-way title shootout in Abu Dhabi.
Norris replied: “It will feel the same as every weekend. I try and beat them. They try and beat me. It is nothing different.
“We were the ones who took the gamble and it was the wrong decision. There is nothing I can do about it now. It was not my finest day in terms of driving and putting things together. That is life.
“Everyone has bad weekends. I take it on the chin, we will see what we can do in Abu Dhabi.”
Lando Norris unhappy with McLaren F1 strategy blunder: ‘It was the wrong decision’
09:57 , Mike JonesLando Norris said he just wanted to go to bed after Max Verstappen cashed in on a calamitous McLaren strategy decision to win the Qatar Grand Prix and take his British rival to a mouth-watering season finale.
Norris was bidding to be crowned world champion in Doha, but he finished only fourth and will head to the 24th and concluding round in Abu Dhabi guarding only a 12-point lead over Verstappen, with team-mate Oscar Piastri, runner-up to the Red Bull driver here, 16 points back.
Lando Norris unhappy with McLaren F1 strategy blunder: ‘It was the wrong decision’
McLaren 'let Norris and Piastri' down in Qatar
09:50 , Mike JonesMcLaren CEO Zak Brown says the team were responsible for ‘letting down’ Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri with their strategy at the Qatar Grand Prix.
Norris could have won the title last week but a decision not to stop under a safety car soct him a podium place.
“We made the wrong decision and I feel terrible for Oscar and Lando. We let them down,” Brown admitted.
“You win and lose as a team but definitely not a great moment, so we’ll go back and study it.
“There is nothing we can do about it now. We’ll just do the best we can in Abu Dhabi.”
Title fight 'doesn't matter' to Verstappen
09:44 , Mike JonesMax Verstappen expanding on his initial thoughts after winning the Qatar Grand Prix but played down his expectations for this weekend’s finale.
“If I don’t win it, I still know that I have had an amazing season,” he revealed.
“So, it doesn’t really matter, and that just takes a lot of the pressure off. I’m just out there having a good time.
“I also know that we will probably need to rely on some external factors. But a race like [Qatar] shows that when you think it’s going to be boring and straightforward, it’s not.
“ So, I’m hoping Abu Dhabi is going to be similar.”
Verstappen 'relaxed' about title clash
09:38 , Mike JonesMax Verstappen says he is relaxed about the prospect of winning his fifth Formula 1 world title this weekend.
The Dutchman knows how to close out an F1 season and has lifted the drivers’ championship in each of the last four years.
But, Verstappen comes into the race in Abu Dhabi knowing a win might not ever be enough for him to overturn the deficit to Lando Norris.
“I’m a lot more relaxed now,” said Verstappen. “I know that I’m 12 points down and I go in there with just positive energy, and I will try everything I can.”
Red Bull confirm Max Verstappen’s 2026 F1 teammate and Yuki Tsunoda’s future
09:33 , Kieran JacksonRed Bull have confirmed that Isack Hadjar will partner Max Verstappen next season – while Yuki Tsunoda has lost his spot in Formula One.
French driver Hadjar will make the step up to Red Bull and F1’s poisoned chalice seat after an impressive rookie campaign at sister team Racing Bulls.
Meanwhile, Liam Lawson will be partnered at RB by 18-year-old British driver Arvid Lindblad, promoted after showing promise in Formula Two this year.
Red Bull confirm Max Verstappen’s 2026 F1 teammate and Yuki Tsunoda’s future
F1 driver standings
09:27 , Mike Jones1. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 408 points
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 396 points
3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 392 points
4. George Russell (Mercedes) – 309 points
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 230 points
6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 152 points
7. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 152 points
8. Alex Albon (Williams) – 73 points
9. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 64 points
10. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 51 points
11. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) - 49 points
12. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 48 points
13. Ollie Bearman (Haas) – 41 points
14. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 38 points
15. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – 33 points
16. Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 32 points
17. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 32 points
18. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 22 points
19. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – 19 points
20. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – 0 points
21. Jack Doohan (Alpine) – 0 points
How can I watch it online and on TV?
09:21 , Mike JonesThe Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom. Sky’s coverage of Sunday’s race starts at 11:30am (GMT).
Sky Sports subscribers can watch all the action at the Yas Marina Circuit on the Sky Go app. If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
When is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?
09:16 , Mike JonesAll times GMT
Friday 5 December
- Free practice 1: 9:30am
- Free practice 2: 1pm
Saturday 6 December
- Free practice 3: 10:30am
- Qualifying: 2pm
Sunday 7 December
- Race: 1pm
How will the F1 title race play out?
09:10 , Mike JonesF1 heads to the season-finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with the drivers’ championship still up for grabs after a dramatic penultimate round in Qatar.
Lando Norris saw his lead cut to 12 points after McLaren’s botched strategy in Lusail allowed Max Verstappen to claim a vital victory, which puts the Red Bull driver up to second in the standings.
Oscar Piastri was left fuming after McLaren’s decision not to pit their drivers early on cost him a race victory and the Australian, who was leading the championship from April to October, is now 16 points off Norris heading into the final round this Sunday.
For Norris, it is simple: a podium finish means he will claim his maiden championship. Anything less and Verstappen could complete a sensational comeback and win his fifth consecutive title. Piastri needs to win the race and hope his rivals fall down the order to claim what is now an improbable title.
The three F1 title finales that show why Lando Norris is far from safe in Abu Dhabi
09:06 , Kieran JacksonSweeping across the Gulf to Abu Dhabi, host of Formula One’s season finale for 12 consecutive years, Lando Norris really should be home and dry by now.
Without those Las Vegas disqualifications a fortnight ago, Max Verstappen would be out of the running.
Without last week’s mistakes in Qatar, McLaren could rest easy in the knowledge that the drivers’ champion would, at the very least, be donning papaya colours. Yet here we are; on we go.
The three F1 title finales that show why Lando Norris is far from safe in Abu Dhabi
Good morning!
09:00 , Mike JonesWelcome to The Independent’s coverage of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The final racing weekend of the season begins in earnest with practice sessions on Friday but beforehand the drivers will address the media with their thoughts ahead of what will be a thrilling finale.
Stick around as we’ll have all the updates from Abu Dhabi throughout the day.
