F1 Abu Dhabi GP live commentary and updates - Race
Follow live updates of the F1 2025 finale with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit
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Hello everyone - you nervous? The F1 2025 title will be decided today and it's between Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
There's all this talk of Verstappen being on pole and the man in-form after his late season resurgence. But it cannot be forgotten that all Norris needs is a podium, which is surely likely given he starts second on the grid.
So it'll take something spectacular for the McLaren driver to not claim his maiden championship.
But one thing keeping Verstappen in this conversation is his experience of title fights. He is a four-time world champion, neither Norris or Piastri have one, and the Red Bull driver reckons his ability under pressure was key to that pole on Saturday.
"When the pressure is the highest or when you really need to perform, normally I perform because I enjoy that kind of aspect," he said.
“But yeah, it was nice. You always try to do the best possible quali lap. Sometimes it works out better than other times. I think this time it worked out pretty well.”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
It's not all about the championship fight though, because qualifying also saw a fourth, consecutive Q1 exit for Lewis Hamilton. The last time we had an Abu Dhabi finale the seven-time world champion was involved (we all know what happened), but how things have drastically changed four years on.
“I don't have the words to express how I feel, just a lot of anger," said a very short on words Hamilton on Saturday.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: James Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images
Speaking of Ferrari, it was a better day for Hamilton's team-mate Leclerc who qualified fifth. But the Monegasque still wasn't satisfied with the performance of his Ferrari.
“I'm driving the car as well and I can see how tricky the car is – how you've just got to go full commitment and it's either in the wall or through Q1.
“Then you need to do the same in Q2 and then you need to do the same in Q3 and, yeah, I know what it's like to have a car that is... and also for the understanding of the car, it's much more difficult to understand something from the car when you really have to push to the absolute limit."
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Photo by: Erik Junius
Back to the title fight though and should Norris or Piastri do the job, it'll be McLaren's 13th drivers' crown.
| Driver | Year |
| Emerson Fittipaldi | 1974 |
| James Hunt | 1976 |
| Niki Lauda | 1984 |
| Alain Prost | 1985 |
| Alain Prost | 1986 |
| Ayrton Senna | 1988 |
| Alain Prost | 1989 |
| Ayrton Senna | 1990 |
| Ayrton Senna | 1991 |
| Mika Hakkinen | 1998 |
| Mika Hakkinen | 1999 |
| Lewis Hamilton | 2008 |
It'll take something special for McLaren to not claim a 13th title either. But will Red Bull use Tsunoda to Verstappen's benefit?
"A factor that will be just as important – and could prove to be even more crucial – will be Yuki Tsunoda’s role.
"Red Bull’s demoted-for-2026 driver said he was ready to 'compromise' his strategy in order to help Verstappen – in other words, delay his first pitstop for as long as he can.
"Then, the McLaren drivers would have two options: do likewise until they have enough of a gap to rejoin ahead of the second Red Bull, or pit at the best theoretical time – especially if they need to cover Verstappen for one reason or another – but have to overtake a feisty Tsunoda on the track.
"That’s a good time to remember how Lewis Hamilton’s lead relative to Verstappen shrunk from nine to two seconds when he ended up behind Sergio Perez in the 2021 showdown…"
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Ahmad AlShehab / NurPhoto via Getty Images
Fun fact!
If Verstappen becomes champion today, he will join John Surtees (1964), James Hunt (1976) and Sebastian Vettel (2010) as the only drivers to have won the F1 title without leading the standings at any point in the season.
Let's go back to 2010 shall we? Vettel arrived at the Abu Dhabi finale 15 points behind leader Alonso. A win for the Red Bull driver, while seventh for the Ferrari, having been stuck behind Petrov for much of the contest, gave the German his maiden title.
So, it is still doable for Verstappen with his 12-point deficit.
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing RB6 Renault, Helmut Marko, Consultant, Red Bull, Adrian Newey, Chief Technical Officer, Red Bull Racing, and the Red Bull team celebrate their championship victories
Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / Motorsport Images
It's busy in the Abu Dhabi paddock. Guenther Steiner even spotted amid the chaos.
Just under 40 minutes until lights out and now the track is ramping up with the pitlane just opening up...
Will any F1 driver get involved with title contenders at Abu Dhabi GP?
The grid is tight, less than a second separated the cars in Q3, and there is always the potential for somebody to come in and cause havoc which is the last thing McLaren needs.
The man most likely to do so is George Russell, who will join Piastri on the second row and the Mercedes driver was even pushing Red Bull to give him a tow in Q3 because he knows Verstappen needs all the outside help he can get to win a fifth championship...
George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Everything McLaren is afraid of as F1 title decider looms
With the title contenders occupying the first three places on the grid, the championship picture is delicately poised – and there is no guarantee that the race will play out according to the pace order established in qualifying. So, there is much for McLaren to be concerned about, even though Norris has a 12-point advantage over Verstappen in the title race.
Turn 1 omnishambles
McLaren’s worst-case scenario is a catastrophic Turn 1 in which one or more of its drivers becomes too closely acquainted with another competitor – or each other. The Yas Marina track’s absence of overtaking opportunities adds to the likelihood of contact at the first corner as squabbles evolve for track position.
A reminder that today's contest is a 58-lap race of a 3.281-mile circuit. Lights out on the hour.
Zak Brown caught giving Lando a hug pre-race. Will the next be one of celebration or misery come the end?
Right here we are, it's showtime. It's been a long old season and let's just hope we have a good one to top it off!
The formation lap is go!
Verstappen is on mediums, as is Norris, but Piastri with hards. Interesting...
The Abu Dhabi title decider is underway!
Lap 1/58
A relatively tame start as the top three keep position. But Russell is down to sixth which isn't ideal for Verstappen, given he probably needed the Mercedes to fight the Mclarens.
Lap 1/58
The top three isn't as it is anymore. What an overtake by Piastri on Norris in sector three for second! Verstappen needs Leclerc to overtake Norris now to be in a position for title number five...
Lap 2/58
Yesterday Russell said he doesn't expect Verstappen to drive off into the sunset. But he already has a 1.6s buffer over Piastri, who is on hards compared to mediums for the Red Bull.
Lap 5/58
Can we have Brundle give his best Gary Neville 'oooooo'? Leclerc is on the back of Norris, while Russell has overtaken Alonso for fifth.
The championship leader is looking more in his rearview mirrors than what is ahead. It is vital he maintains third at the very least.
Lap 8/58
Norris being told to use more of his tyres to keep Leclerc at bay. It's not the opening laps McLaren would have hoped for, quite frankly!
Lap 9/58
Well that was quick. Hamilton only lasted nine laps on that soft rubber as in he comes for hards. Likewise for Albon.
Lap 10/58
Looks like Norris has dealt with the Leclerc threat for now as a second separates the pair. It's all currently a bit static.
Lap 12/58
It's worth keeping an eye out for Verstappen's team-mate Tsunoda. In his last race for Red Bull, he is currently 10th but more crucially, on those hard tyres. He'll clearly go as long as he can in the hope that he gets track position over McLaren at some point.
A picture of the start for your own entertainment.
Start action
Photo by: Giuseppe Cacace - AFP - Getty Images
Norris: "My graining is definitely picking up."
As it stands, this man is your 2025 world champion
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lap 15/58
Few pitstops are now happening, including Russell who is attempting to take fourth from Leclerc with the undercut. Verstappen could probably do with it being a successful one too, as Russell is arguably the bigger threat to the McLarens.
Lap 16/58
Ferrari doesn't immediately react by pitting Leclerc, so let's see how that one plays out...
Lap 17/58
Big moment this as Norris and Leclerc both pit. Routine stops for the pair as well.
Lap 17/58
What that pitstop has allowed though is Tsunoda to get track position on Norris. The Red Bull is fourth, Norris is ninth. Keep an eye out for that potential battle, though Norris needs to overcome this DRS train first.
Lap 18/58
Nice move that as Norris overtakes Antonelli down the inside of Turn 3. Now three more cars to overtake in this train.
Lap 19/58
That move was easier as Norris moves past Sainz. To be fair to him, he's overcoming this DRS train quite quickly.
Lap 19/58
Yep, he's done it. A nice double overtake on Stroll and Lawson means Norris is now fifth. Tsunoda up next...
By: Ed Hardy
