2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Recap

By Ryan Wu

For the first time in five years, Formula 1 has a new World Champion. After narrowly missing the chance to secure his maiden title a week earlier in Qatar, Lando Norris delivered on the preseason expectations for both himself and his team, capturing his first F1 World Championship.

His coronation required the full 24-race calendar, with Max Verstappen closing from 102 points behind and threatening with what could have been a historic comeback. The momentum seemed firmly in the Dutchman’s favor, especially after the McLaren drivers collided in Austin and were later hit with a double disqualification in Las Vegas.

However, to be the best, you have to beat the best. Lando Norris dethroned Verstappen and ended his four-year championship run. In doing so, he proved that champions come in different forms. He may not possess Verstappen’s intensity or Lewis Hamilton’s charisma, but in Formula 1, what matters most is crossing the finish line first. Though he did not come away with the win in Abu Dhabi, Norris claimed the ultimate prize.

Race Recap

Verstappen delivered when it mattered in qualifying. His final laps in Q3 were exceptionally fast, allowing him to snatch pole position from Norris and Piastri, who started second and third, respectively.

There was considerable speculation before the race that the run to the first corner would create drama and potentially open a path for Piastri to slip through. Fortunately for everyone involved, no incidents occurred, and the race unfolded with very few disruptions. Oscar Piastri, who gambled by starting on hard tires, made an excellent move on Norris during the opening lap to take second place. He needed at least a top two finish and hoped for chaos to impact his two remaining rivals. His strategy reflected that hope, as he did not stop for tires until lap 41 of 58, once it became clear that no late crash or safety car was likely.

Norris was the first of the leading trio to pit for new tires. He entered in third and exited in ninth on a set of hards, before immediately attacking the field. Like a player boosted by the yellow star in Mario Kart, he sliced through the pack over the next few laps, picking off Kimi Antonelli, Carlos Sainz and climbed to sixth by the end of lap 19, including a bold overtake of both Lance Stroll and Liam Lawson on the back straight. Although Norris only needed a podium finish to secure the Championship, he refused to become conservative.

The charge was smooth until he challenged Yuki Tsunoda, who had not yet pitted, on lap 23. Norris appeared to complete the overtake off the track, raising concerns of a potential penalty that would have severely damaged his title hopes. However, the stewards determined that Tsunoda forced Norris wide by weaving three times across the track. At the time, Charles Leclerc was only 1.6 seconds behind in fifth, so a five or ten second penalty would have been costly.

Norris held third place comfortably and was never under serious threat, ultimately finishing more than seven seconds ahead of fourth place Leclerc.

Standings Implications

Mercedes secured second place in the Constructors’ Championship thanks to George Russell’s fifth place finish. The result carries significant financial implications, as the difference in prize money between second and third can amount to tens of millions of dollars. Williams also clinched fourth place, capping an incredible season for a team that chose not to significantly develop its car after April, instead allocating substantial resources toward next year’s new generation of cars. After years of difficulty, there is renewed optimism, as they appear to have established a stable and at times inspiring driver pairing in Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, who finished eighth and ninth in the Championship, respectively.

Odds and ends

No rookie finished in the points in this race, marking the first time this has happened since the British Grand Prix in July and only the second time all season. Furthermore, Hamilton’s eighth place finish confirmed that he completed his first Ferrari season without a podium, the first time this has occurred in his career.

Racing Refresh Driver of the Day

Lando Norris, McLaren

Final Points Finishing Positions

1st: Max Verstappen

2nd: Oscar Piastri

3rd: Lando Norris

4th: Charles Leclerc

5th: George Russell

6th: Fernando Alonso

7th: Esteban Ocon

8th: Lewis Hamilton

9th: Nico Hulkenberg

10th: Lance Stroll