Formula 1 fans could not have wished for a better scenario entering the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi this weekend, with not one, not two, but three drivers still in contention for the championship crown.
Not since 2010 has a title decider involved more than two contenders in F1 and fans will no doubt have their eyes peeled on the three-way battle between Lando Norris (McLaren), Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Oscar Piastri (McLaren) that will take center stage at Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday.
Here’s a close look at what promises to be a thrilling race weekend, and other storylines to keep an eye out for.
Norris’ fate in his own hands
Things may have not gone Norris’ way in the last couple of races, with McLaren handed a double disqualification in Las Vegas, and the team making a strategic error in Qatar, but the Brit remains in a strong position to secure a maiden F1 drivers’ championship.
Norris is 12 points ahead of second-placed Verstappen, with Piastri a further four points behind, and would guarantee himself the title on Sunday by finishing anywhere on the podium – something he has done 17 times in 23 races so far this campaign.
The 26-year-old played down the pressure he is under while speaking to reporters in the UAE capital on Thursday, saying he will treat this grand prix just like any other race.
“I guess in terms of position, of course, I have the most to lose because I am the one at the top. And I’ll do my best to stay there till the end of the year, a few more days,” Norris added.
“At the same time, if it doesn’t go my way, then I try again next year. It’ll hurt probably for a little while, but then, yeah, that’s life. I’ll crack on and try and do better next season.
“So, I also feel like I have the mentality of "I have nothing to lose," because it’s just a race for a championship. But in 30 years’ time, I probably won’t think of it that much either way. So, I’m not too bothered. I’ll do the best I can. If it happens, great. If it doesn’t, then I’ll try again next year.”
Verstappen was also playing it cool on media day, saying he prepared for the race by spending time with his daughter and “figured some stuff out for GT3 for next year, figured out some stuff for my sim team as well, planning for next year. So, yeah, just pretty straightforward stuff.”
The Dutchman, gunning for a fifth consecutive world title, mounted an incredible comeback in the last three months after trailing then-leader Piastri by a whopping 104 points at the end of August.
He would need to finish on the podium and have other results to go his way to walk away with a fifth crown on Sunday.
“I’m very relaxed. Nothing to lose, you know? So, I’m just enjoying being here,” said Verstappen.
“But for me, it’s not even about being here. I’ve been enjoying the second half of the season, working with the team, how we’ve been able to turn it around from difficult times.
“Everything here is just a bonus, sitting here fighting for the title. So that’s also what makes it very straightforward for me. We will just try to have a good weekend. But then even then, it’s not really in my control, you know? So we just, yeah, like I said, try to enjoy it.”
Papaya rules could come into play
Piastri’s chances are the slimmest of the trio as he needs to either win the race and for Norris to finish fifth or lower, or to place second and for Norris to finish 10th or lower and Verstappen to be fourth or lower.
Things could get complicated for the McLaren duo if Norris finds himself outside the top three, with Verstappen leading the race and Piastri sandwiched between them. With no chance to secure the championship in that scenario, would the Aussie driver cede his position to help his Papaya teammate get on the podium and win the title?
“It’s not something we’ve discussed. Until I know what’s expected, I don’t really have an answer,” responded Piastri.
Meanwhile, Norris said: “I mean, I would love it, but I don’t think I would ask it. Because… I don’t know, it’s up to Oscar if he would allow it, you know? I don’t think it’s necessarily down to me.”
This could get messy!
Mercedes look to lock down P2
Mercedes head into the season finale in P2 in the constructors’ championship, 33 points ahead of Red Bull. A maximum of 43 points are on offer in Abu Dhabi.
A combined 11 points from George Russell and Kimi Antonelli could seal P2 for Mercedes.
Another battle will be taking place further down the grid as Aston Martin try to secure P7, by staving off their direct competitors Haas and Sauber.
“It's going to be intense until the finish line. We are in that battle, we would love to battle a little bit further up but we try to secure the best position possible for the team and help with as many points as possible this last round,” said Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
Milestones, switch-ups, and farewells
Elsewhere on the grid, Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg will be celebrating his 250th grand prix start in Abu Dhabi and will commemorate that special milestone by wearing a Gladiator-themed helmet.
“I think it just resembles a little bit what you need in the sport. Resilience, fighting spirit, endurance, all these kind of attributes I think that are needed to survive for that long in this industry,” he explained.
“It’s a nice milestone, nice achievement, obviously for me personally, for my career. And yeah, happy to be still around, living the dream and enjoying myself.”
For the Racing Bulls camp, Abu Dhabi will be the last race with Liam Lawson teaming up with Isack Hadjar, who has officially been promoted to Red Bull starting 2026.
Hadjar, who just 12 months ago was competing with Gabriel Bortoleto for the F2 title has had an impressive rookie season in F1 and will be replacing Yuki Tsunoda to partner up with Verstappen at Red Bull next year.
“It's a very good moment in my career, that's for sure. For all the hard work through the years being rewarded now. Obviously, it's just the beginning of a new journey, but yeah, I'm very excited and stepping into a new era of Formula 1 as well. I think it's a very good timing,” said the French-Algerian driver.
Meanwhile, Tsunoda is understandably disappointed to lose his F1 seat for 2026, but has been retained by Red Bull to be their reserve and test driver.
Chapter closing on ‘horrible’ ground-effect era of cars
“There’s not a single thing I’ll miss about these cars. Simple as that. Literally there’s nothing, I’m not enjoying it,” Lewis Hamilton said emphatically when asked about the ground-effect generation of cars that will be driven for the final time this weekend at Yas Marina Circuit.
These cars were introduced in 2022 and have been subject to lots of criticism from the drivers, who spoke on Thursday about the physical toll the bounciness of these vehicles has had on their bodies.
With a new regulation coming into effect starting 2026, many on the grid are grateful the ground-effect era will finally be over post-Abu Dhabi.
“Physically for our backs, I think we all agree that it’s been rough. It’s not sustainable over a full career. So I think that's a good thing that they sort of moved away from it,” Alpine’s Pierre Gasly said.
In other words – good riddance!
Even a rookie like Oliver Bearman, who has only driven these cars for one season, can’t wait for this era to be over.
“Definitely the bouncing and the ride and the uncomfortableness of these cars – they are horrible, particularly coming from tracks like Las Vegas, Mexico, even Qatar a little bit,” the Haas driver said on Thursday.
“The stiffness that you have to run to achieve performance with these cars means that you are getting out the car and you can't sleep the night because your back is hurting that much, so I definitely won’t miss the lack of comfort of these cars and I've never experienced anything like that in a racing car because I’ve never had bouncing or issues with porpoising or any of that, so, yeah, that’s a horrible sensation.
“I really hope that next year cars don’t bounce, especially if I want to have a long career in F1 because, yeah, let’s say if they continue like this, I don’t think many of us would see all those guys racing until their late 40s like Lewis [Hamilton] and Fernando [Fernando] have.”
Abu Dhabi will also be the last race with drag reduction system (DRS) – introduced as an overtaking aid in 2011 – because 2026 will feature cars with active aerodynamics and moveable wings.
