It’s here. The final race weekend of the season. Known for its long DRS zones and immense speed, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is a fantastic way to end the Formula 1 season.
And what a finale it is going to be. Three drivers have the chance to take home the 2025 Drivers’ Championship, with Max Verstappen trying to knock out the two McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. The frontrunner, of course, is Norris, but in racing, you just never know.
Here’s how the race weekend should shape up:
Abu Dhabi Circuit Guide
- Circuit Length: 5.281 km
- Number of Laps: 58 laps
- Race Distance: 306.183 kms
- Lap Record: Kevin Magnussen – 1:25.637 (2024)
- Track Type: Circuit
- DRS Detection Zones: 2 zones located at turn 5 and turn 7
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Key Storylines
The 2025 Drivers’ Championship
The one topic on everyone’s mind is the 2025 Drivers’ Championship. Lando Norris is on track to win the Championship, so long as he finishes in the top three. There are paths for both Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri to win the championship, but it will take them winning and Norris dropping points.
Abu Dhabi brings to an end a fantastic season, with a title race that will be settled on the last day of the season. Knowing the sport and its love of storylines, expect this to be anything but a boring race weekend.
One last race for Yuki Tsunoda
That’s the end for Yuki Tsunoda for now. He has been bumped out of a Formula 1 seat for next season. Isack Hadjar will take his seat at Red Bull, with Arvid Lindblad joining Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls.
It’s hard to blame Tsunoda fully for the way this season went. He was so good for Racing Bulls in the past, but the jump to Red Bull just didn’t work for him.
He will be the reserve driver for Red Bull next season. Hopefully, he can do what Alex Albon did a few seasons back and find his way back onto the grid.
F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Predictions
Pole Position: Oscar Piastri. To make things intriguing, expect Oscar Piastri to start the race on pole. Max Verstappen and Lando Norris will join George Russell in starting in the top five.
Race Winner: Max Verstappen. The Red Bull is too fast, and the team is too clinical not to expect Verstappen to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It won’t be enough. Lando Norris will finish in third and will win the Drivers’ Championship.
Bold Prediction: Mercedes plays spoiler. While Verstappen will win in Abu Dhabi, it will be the Mercedes of George Russell that will be fighting in that top five to deny anyone a clear victory. He will finish second.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Schedule & How to Watch
Race Weekend Schedule
| Session | Local Time | EST | MST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Practice 1 | December 5, 2025 | 4:30 am | 2:30 am |
| Free Practice 2 | December 5, 2025 | 8:00 am | 6:00 am |
| Free Practice 3 | December 6, 2025 | 5:30 am | 3:30 am |
| Qualifying | December 6, 2025 | 9:00 am | 7:00 am |
| Race | December 7, 2025 | 8:00 am | 6:00 am |
F1 Championship Standings before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Drivers’ Championship (Top 5)
| Position | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 408 |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 396 |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 392 |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes | 309 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 230 |
Constructors’ Championship (Top 5)
| Position | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | McLaren | 800 |
| 2 | Mercedes | 459 |
| 3 | Red Bull | 426 |
| 4 | Ferrari | 382 |
| 5 | Williams | 137 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the race start?
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race starts at 5:00 pm local time on Sunday, December 7th, 2025. For viewers in Eastern Canada and the United States, that’s 8:00 am, while UK fans can watch at 1:00 pm GMT.
Who is favoured to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?
Any of Norris, Verstappen, or Piastri could win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but realistically, it will be Verstappen who wins the final race of the season.
What is the weather forecast for race weekend?
Abu Dhabi is expected to be warm through the Grand Prix weekend. The daytime temperature is expected to be around 28 degrees. Closer to race time in the evening, the temperature is expected to drop slightly to closer to 23 degrees Celsius. There is, of course, no rain in the forecast.
How many laps is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?
The race consists of 58 laps of the 5.281 km circuit, totalling 306.183 km. The lap record at Yas Marina is held by Kevin Magnussen (2024) with a time of 1:25.637.
Who has won the most races at Yas Marina?
Abu Dhabi has been on the race calendar since 2009, and Lewis Hamilton holds the record with five wins on the track. Max Verstappen could tie that with a win this year. Sebastian Vettel has three race wins, while Lando Norris is the most recent race winner, having won his first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year.
What tyre compounds will be used at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?
Pirelli has nominated the C3, C4, and C5 compound tyres for the Abu Dhabi weekend. Teams typically favour a one-stop strategy at Yas Marina, with only Fernando Alonso pitting twice last year.
Expect most drivers to start on the medium compound tyres this year, but Pirelli is saying that the soft tyres should be in play during the race. Last year, every driver started on mediums except Lewis Hamilton. Expect the same this year.
What makes the Abu Dhabi circuit unique?
The Yas Marina circuit is the only day-to-night race on the calendar. Beginning at 5 pm local time, the race starts at dusk under the last bits of sunset, then transitions to end under the bright lights of the track.
The track also has a yacht viewing area, similar to Monaco, but has been designed to be wider than the iconic race, allowing cars to pass each other around the curves there.
Closing Thoughts
Stay tuned for our live updates during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend. Follow us on social media to keep up with all the action.
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