F1 2025: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Preview and Predictions

An incredible season of racing is coming to a thrilling end as the action moves to Abu Dhabi for one of the most exciting finales in a long, long time.

Three drivers are still in the running for the Drivers’ title, with Max Verstappen’s incredible late-season surge keeping his hopes for a fifth straight title alive.

For the 2025 Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, here we present our preview and predictions. 

The three-way battle at the top

For the first time since 2010, more than two drivers go into the final race with a chance to win the World Drivers’ Championship. Max Verstappen’s win in Qatar, along with McLaren’s strategic mess, has cut down Lando Norris’ championship lead to a mere 12 points, with Oscar Piastri four points behind Verstappen and very much in the thick of it.

All three are in with a shout to win the title, though Norris remains the one in prime position. Each driver knows what he needs to do, but the fact that it has come down to the very last race, and given the momentum he has gained in the last few races, the reigning world champion starts as our favourite. Verstappen has been clinical since coming back from the summer break and has made the most of every McLaren fumble.

Moreover, Abu Dhabi has always been a happy hunting ground for Red Bull. Back in 2010, case in point, Sebastian Vettel won his first title with the Austrian outfit, having come into the race third in the standings as well. Vettel was 15 points behind Fernando Alonso and still managed to snatch away the title at the death; Verstappen will be hoping to do something similar.

Piastri found some much-needed form in Qatar, but his team let him down once again, leaving him as the least likely to take the title in the UAE. Barring any major incident, it will come down to a straight battle between Verstappen and Norris, and we expect the Dutchman to come out on top on a track where he has enjoyed a lot of success. This is also where he secured his first title, after all.

Pole prediction: Max Verstappen / Lando Norris
Race winners prediction: Red Bull / McLaren

Midfield maestros

Even though the Drivers’ title remains up for grabs, the Constructors’ title was long wrapped up by McLaren, with their intra-team Drivers’ title fight helping them secure back-to-back titles, especially given Red Bull’s second-seat issues.

Yuki Tsunoda’s inability to assist Verstappen at the front of the grid after replacing Liam Lawson early in the season has seen Red Bull fall to third in the standings, and while they still have a chance to clinch second place, the odds are stacked heavily against them.

The Red Bull management have already had enough of Tsunoda’s struggles and have confirmed Isack Hadjar for their second seat starting next year. With this set to be Tsunoda’s last outing in the RB21, as well as Hadjar’s last in the VCARB 02, expect both to go out on a high on a track that suits both Red Bull cars.

The Franco-Algerian has been in tremendous form and pulled Racing Bulls to sixth in the Constructors’ standings, which the Italian team would not have expected at the start of the season. While it was a rough weekend for Hadjar in Qatar, expect him to bounce back in style in Abu Dhabi ahead of his promotion.

Best of the rest: Racing Bulls

A season to forget

To say it has been a rough debut season for Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari would be an understatement, for his woes have been evident, and the Brit himself looks to have lost the drive that has kept him going all these years. He has on multiple occasions stated that he’s looking forward to the season’s end so that he can start preparing for next year.

Should the general trajectory continue, it will be the first time in his illustrious career that Hamilton finishes a season without a podium to his name, while also finishing outside the top five in the Drivers’ standings for the first time in his career.

And it’s very likely that Hamilton reaches these unenviable milestones, given the Ferrari car has shown absolutely no performance on race days. Hamilton’s teammate, Charles Leclerc, has also publicly stated the difficulties with the SF-25.

Expect a rough and tough ending to a forgettable debut season for Hamilton with the Scuderia.

Strugglers of the weekend: Ferrari

F1 Abu Dhabi Prix 2025: Race details

Circuit: Yas Marina Circuit
Venue: Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Practice Session 1 time: 15:00 IST, December 5, 2025
Practice Session 2 time: 18:30 IST, December 5, 2025
Practice Session 3 time: 16:00 IST, December 6, 2025
Qualifying time: 19:30 IST, December 6, 2025
Main race time: 18:30 IST, December 7, 2025
Where to watch: F1 TV Pro / FanCode