ABU DHABI: The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 Formula One World Drivers’ Championship, with three drivers vying for the title under the lights at Yas Marina Circuit this weekend.
Max Verstappen’s dramatic victory in Qatar last Sunday leaves the Dutchman locked in a battle for glory with the two McLaren drivers, Brit Lando Norris and Australia’s Oscar Piastri.
The Red Bull driver’s win lifted him into second place in the standings where he sits on 396 points, 12 behind current leader Norris who finished fourth at the Lusail International Circuit. Pole-sitter Piastri dropped to third but still cut his deficit to Norris to 18 points.
This weekend marks the fifth title decider to take place in the UAE capital and the first since 2021.
Reigning world champion Verstappen, aiming for a fifth drivers’ crown, has won four of the last five races at Yas Marina Circuit, with his run broken only by Norris last year. With just 16 points separating the three contenders, and with 25 up for grabs on Sunday, Dec. 7, the circuit is set for one of the most exciting championship finales in recent F1 history.
Thousands of fans from 105 countries are expected to attend. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix organizers have risen to the occasion, announcing additions to the already packed entertainment program.
CEO Saif Al-Noaimi said: “The 2025 Formula One World Drivers’ Championship will be decided in Abu Dhabi in the first three-way battle since 2010. We’ve built a weekend that matches this historic occasion with four nights of headline concerts, extended track access and a city-wide entertainment program.”
More opportunities for fans to get trackside
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was one of the first F1 races to introduce a public pitlane walk and it remains one of the most popular experiences for racegoers every year.
In response to high demand, this year will see not one, but two, being held with the first on Dec. 4. This will give more fans the chance to watch the teams get their garages ready and they may even spot some of the drivers. The sessions also include a track walk when fans can explore the track itself.
The pit lane walk is available exclusively to four-day ticket holders and, as there is limited capacity, it is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
In another first, more grandstand gates will open after the checkered flag is waved on Sunday, inviting every fan to join in the post-race celebrations under the podium as the 2025 champion is crowned.
The ticket that unlocks the city
Multi-day ticket holders also receive complimentary access to Abu Dhabi’s premier attractions, including Yas Island theme parks and cultural destinations such as Louvre Abu Dhabi and Qasr Al-Watan.
This year’s inclusions extend to new cultural landmarks in the Saadiyat Cultural District — innovative multisensory art museum teamLab Phenomena and the recently opened Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi.
With Zayed National Museum set to open on Dec. 3, one day before the Grand Prix program begins, there is more to see and do in Abu Dhabi than ever before.
Grand Prix takes over the Yas Island
The new trackside experiences and cultural access add to a packed entertainment program that includes four nights of music with Emirates NBD Yasalam After-Race Concerts in Etihad Park featuring Benson Boone, Elyanna, Post Malone, Metallica, and Katy Perry. There are official after parties headlined by Idris Elba, Keinemusik, and Calvin Harris, while restaurants and hotels across Yas Island and Abu Dhabi will host dining pop-ups and exclusive events.
