Formula One is preparing for a dramatic championship finale in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, where McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will attempt to stop Red Bull’s Max Verstappen from securing a fifth consecutive world title.
Norris enters the final race as the favourite in the three-way duel, holding a 12-point advantage over Verstappen. A podium finish at Yas Marina—regardless of who wins—would be enough to seal his first championship in what promises to be a high-stakes showdown under the lights.
The 2025 season, the last before the sport shifts into a new technical era with fresh rules, engines, and the arrival of an 11th team, has delivered unpredictable swings in momentum. All three title contenders have experienced dramatic highs, painful setbacks, and share an equal tally of seven victories.
Each driver is capable of adding another win in the finale—setting the stage for a tense sunset thriller worthy of a Hollywood script. Crashes, collisions, and race retirements have shaped their seasons, reminding everyone how quickly fortunes can change.
McLaren’s Rise & Verstappen’s Remarkable Fightback
Norris opened his season with a win in Melbourne but trailed Piastri by 34 points at the end of August. A dominant late-season surge reversed his fortunes, while Piastri’s pace stalled. The Briton also claimed victory in Abu Dhabi last year from pole after losing a title fight to Verstappen.
“It’s been an incredible season. We have an incredible car. I’m proud of everyone in the team… we’ll give it everything,” Norris said.
Piastri, who led the championship from April to October, once looked on track to become Australia’s first Formula One champion since Alan Jones. Now 16 points behind Norris, he needs a win or second place and a major twist of fate to reclaim the lead. Twice this century, a driver starting the final race in third place has snatched the title—so history is still on his side.
Verstappen, meanwhile, has staged the most astonishing comeback. After sinking 104 points behind Piastri in late August, back-to-back victories in Las Vegas and Qatar put him firmly back in contention.
“We stay in the fight until the end,” Verstappen said after his Qatar win. Abu Dhabi has been kind to him before—he won four straight races there until last season—and another victory could secure him the crown if Norris fails to reach the podium.
McLaren, dominant enough to clinch the constructors’ title with one of the highest points totals in F1 history, has nevertheless stumbled, notably with disqualifications in Las Vegas and a costly strategic error in Qatar. The question now is whether they can hold steady and deliver their first championship double since 1998.
Battles Beyond the Title: Prize Money & Team Stakes
While the championship fight grabs headlines, the rest of the grid will be chasing crucial points and prize money.
Mercedes and Red Bull are duelling for second in the constructors’ standings, with Mercedes likely to edge ahead thanks to George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, as Red Bull remains heavily dependent on Verstappen.
The race also marks the final Red Bull appearance for Yuki Tsunoda, whose seat goes to Isack Hadjar next season. It is also Honda’s final race with Red Bull before their switch to Aston Martin.
Ferrari will make one last attempt to secure a victory in 2025, while Lewis Hamilton faces the prospect of ending a season without a single podium finish—an unprecedented outcome for the seven-time champion.
Sauber—soon to become Audi’s works team—trail Haas by just five points and remain only seven behind Aston Martin. Nico Hulkenberg will mark his 250th career start.
At Alpine, the team is preparing for its final race with Renault power before switching to Mercedes engines. For Franco Colapinto, it’s one final chance this season to score his first championship point.