F1 2025: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Preview and Predictions

An incredible season of racing is coming to a thrilling end as the action-packed Formula One 2025 season moves to Abu Dhabi for one of the most exciting finales in Formula One history in a long, long time. Three drivers, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are still in the running for the Drivers’ title as Verstappen’s incredible late-season surge has seen the Red Bull driver keep his hopes for a fifth world title alive. With the possibility of seeing a record fifth title from Verstappen or a maiden title for either McLaren driver alive, we head into one of the most exciting race weekends in a while.

For the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025, here are our predictions and previews. 

Three-way battle with one champion

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

All three drivers still have a chance to win the title although Norris remains the one in prime position. All three know what to do to win the title but even with Norris holding a 12 point gap, the fact that it has come down to the literal last race and the momentum gained in the last few races, it is the reigning world champion, Max Verstappen starting as the favourite. Verstappen has been clinical post the summer break and made the most of every fumble from McLaren. Abu Dhabi has always been a happy hunting ground for Red Bull and back in 2010, Sebastian Vettel won his first title with Red Bull, having come into that race being P3 in the Championship as well. Vettel was 15 points behind Fernando Alonso and stole the title and Verstappen will be hoping to do something similar. 

Piastri found some much needed form in Qatar but his team let him down once again and with him being the least likely to take the win, it will come down to a straight battle between Verstappen and Norris and expect Verstappen to come out on top on a track he has enjoyed a lot of success in and won his first title at.

Pole position prediction: Max Verstappen / Lando Norris

Race winners prediction: Red Bull / McLaren

Midfield maestros

While the Drivers’ title is still up for grabs, the Constructors’ championship was long wrapped up by McLaren as they made it back to back titles with Red Bull unable to have two drivers fight the McLarens together at the top. Yuki Tsunoda’s inability to assist Verstappen in the front of the grid has seen Red Bull fall to P3 in the Constructors’ and even though, theoretically, they still have a chance to go P2, it will be tough for the Austrian team.

Tsunoda’s struggles have apparently had its final way with the Red Bull management, who are reported to have made their decision to replace Tsunoda with Isack Hadjar for the upcoming season with Red Bull set to announce their new driver pairing post the Abu Dhabi race weekend. If it is going to be Tsunoda and Hadjar’s last races with their current team, expect both to go out on a high on a track that suits the Red Bull cars. Hadjar has been in tremendous form and has pulled Racing Bulls to a P6 in the Constructors, something which the Italian team would have not 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 before leaving for Red Bull.

Best of the Rest Racing Bulls

A season to forget

To say it’s been a rough debut season for Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari would be an understatement. Hamilton’s woes at Ferrari have been publicly spoken about and Hamilton himself looks to have lost the drive that keeps him going. He has, on multiple occasions, stated that he is looking forward to the season ending so that he can start prep for Formula One 2026 season and get done with the current one.

Should the general trajectory continue, it will be the first time in his illustrious career that Hamilton will finish a season without a podium finish and also for the first time in his career that he will finish below P5 in the Drivers’ Championship standing. Both of which will most likely happen as the Ferrari car looks like it has absolutely no performance on race days and Hamilton’s teammate, Charles Leclerc, publicly stated the difficulties of the car and how tough it was to control the challenger.

Things don’t look like it will get any better for Ferrari and expect a rough and tough ending to a forgettable debut season for Hamilton at Ferrari.

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 05, 2025
Practice Session 2 time: 18:30 IST, December 05, 2025
Practice Session 3 time: 16:00 IST, December 06, 2025
Qualifying time: 19:30 IST, December 06, 2025
Main race time: 18:30 IST, December 07, 2025
Where to watch: F1 TV Pro / FanCode