- F1
Norris holds a 12-point lead over Verstappen heading into the final race of the season with Piastri also challenging for the title
Kieran Jacksonin Abu DhabiThursday 04 December 2025 09:10 GMTComments
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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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How will the F1 title race play out?
F1 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.
Mike Jones4 December 2025 09:10The three F1 title finales that show why Lando Norris is far from safe in Abu Dhabi
Sweeping 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
Norris only needs a podium finish but championship-deciders in 2010, 2007 and 1986 should serve as a warning shot to the Briton and give Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri room for encouragementKieran Jackson4 December 2025 09:06Good morning!
Welcome 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.
Mike Jones4 December 2025 09:00More about
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