The final race of the 2025 Formula 1 season is upon us, and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix once again takes centre stage with a title fight going down to the wire.

Lando Norris can win his first driver’s title by finishing on the podium despite Max Verstappen or Oscar Piastri winning the race.

All three drivers have scored seven wins this season so far. In the unlikely scenario that two drivers are level on points, the driver with the most wins across the season will take the title.

Let’s preview this weekend’s race in Abu Dhabi and see who the favourites are.

The Track

The Yas Marina track is believed to be the most expensive F1 circuit ever built at a cost of around $1 billion back in 2009. It has hosted the season finale 13 times, with the most famous race in 2021 when Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton went head-to-head for the championship.

It’s 5.28km long and has 16 turns. In 2021, the FIA made changes to the track to encourage better racing. They altered two sequences of chicanes which were replaced by quicker corners, and some slower turns were eased according to Racefans.net.

There is a 1.2 km-long straight between turns 5 and 6. The drivers need to brake hard through the section through turns 10, 11 and 12. This means they will generate heavy lateral loads on the car.

In terms of rubber, F1 tyre supplier, Pirelli says: “Historically, the Yas Marina track sees graining on the tyres, but as from last year this phenomenon seems to be relatively limited and the greater resistance of the current tyres could reduce it to such an extent that even the Soft, usually only used in qualifying, could be a tyre around which to put together a race strategy.”

Will Norris keep a cool head?

Norris heads into this weekend with two poor weekends behind him. Both he and teammate Piastri were disqualified in Las Vegas, and then the team made a strategy blunder in Qatar last weekend.

The Briton is the favourite by virtue of his points advantage, but also won here in 2024 and has come from behind to lead the championship.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said: “We will do everything possible to put our drivers in the best position to win the title, continuing to pursue our way of approaching racing, to bring back to McLaren a double World Championship that has been missing for 27 years.”

Right behind Norris is Verstappen, who has nothing to lose. The four-time world champion has taken advantage of McLaren’s errors and now has a chance of claiming another title. The Dutch driver admitted that 2025 has been his best year in terms of driving, even though he hasn’t had the fastest car, but still managed to eke out seven wins.

It has gone down to the wire, and now it remains to be seen who can keep a cool head.

Predictions

Grand Prix Winner: Norris

Grand Prix Podium: Norris, Piastri, Verstappen

Pole Position: Norris

Top 4 and 5: Antonelli, Russell

Finish in the points: Leclerc, Hamilton, Sainz, Albon, Hadjar

GP Race Winning Margin: Over 5 seconds

Fastest Lap: Piastri

First to Retire: Colapinto

First car to retire: Alpine

Most Team Points: McLaren

Both Cars Qualify for Q3 Shootout: McLaren

Ferrari Practice 1/2/3 Winning Car: Norris / McLaren

Safety Car: Yes

Fastest pit stop: McLaren