There’s a championship combat to complete – Owen Bellwood
It’s the ultimate race of the Components 1 season and after 23 grands prix, the drivers’ championship remains to be all to play for going into Abu Dhabi. ’s leads proceedings with 408 factors, however Crimson Bull’s is simply 12 factors behind, and is an additional 4 factors again.
Commercial
Norris has the benefit going into the race, and will likely be out for redemption after McLaren missed out on a 1-2 end in Qatar because of a botched pitstop name. Verstappen, in the meantime, is certainly the driving force with momentum on his aspect. Regardless of a tough begin to the 2025 season, the Dutchman’s 12 months rotated following an improve bundle in Monza, and he has since gained 5 out of eight races – together with the final two rounds.
Nonetheless, Norris want solely finishes within the high three to select up a primary drivers’ crown. Regardless of this, solely a idiot would rely Verstappen out at this stage – particularly as his staff has a historical past of overturning related deficits on the UAE circuit. And, ought to the Dutchman squabble along with his British rival within the opening laps, Piastri want solely be readily available to brush up the items to take a primary title of his personal.
Certain, Norris is the favorite going into the weekend, however an in-form Verstappen and a McLaren staff that seemingly jumps at each alternative to make the mistaken name signifies that the combat remains to be certain to be thrilling – irrespective of how powerful overtaking may be across the Yas Marina circuit.
Commercial
Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing
Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing
Midfield positions nonetheless to be determined – Ed Hardy
Overlook the 2025 Components 1 title combat, as a result of the true battle is within the midfield the place a number of positions are but to be determined. maintain sixth, simply 12 factors above seventh-place Aston Martin – which is seven factors forward of Haas in eighth. There are then simply 5 factors separating Haas and ninth-placed , so there’s a lot to play for.
Commercial
It could not appear essential on the face of it, as a result of fairly frankly no one is tuning in to see who finishes seventh, however it’s of giant significance to the groups as a result of the distinction between these positions means roughly $10 million in prize cash. And in a world the place the midfield battle is extremely tight, this type of money may also help give a squad the sting for the approaching years – so these groups gained’t be resting on their laurels simply but.
That’s particularly as a result of a lot can change right away as effectively, as despite the fact that Racing Bulls would possibly look secure with a 12-point hole, it wasn’t way back in Mexico that Haas claimed a rating of 14 with its fourth and ninth-place finishes.
Additionally final week in Qatar, for instance, Aston Martin scored six factors because of coming house in seventh – so there’s each likelihood that no less than a kind of positions within the constructors’ standings will change come Sunday.
Commercial
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Antonelli on the right track to overtake Hamilton – Haydn Cobb
Firstly of the 12 months, in case you had predicted to complete forward of within the F1 drivers’ world championship you’d have raised a couple of eyebrows. For those who had predicted that very same feat across the finish of the European stretch of the season, you’ll have been laughed at. However who’s laughing now?
Had Antonelli not slipped off the observe late on in Qatar, handing a spot to Norris within the course of, the rookie and seven-time world champion could be stage on factors going into the ultimate. Whereas accusations of intentionally letting the McLaren driver by at Losail are “brainless”, per Toto Wolff’s evaluation of Helmut Marko, Antonelli bridging the two-point hole to Hamilton appears totally logical for the Abu Dhabi GP.
Commercial
Learn Additionally:
Antonelli has hit a purple patch of outcomes; second in Brazil’s dash and grand prix, a promoted third in Las Vegas after McLaren’s double disqualification, and a sixth place within the dash and a fifth place within the Qatar GP to spherical out 53-point haul. In distinction, Hamilton’s six-point tally over that very same stretch is depressing.
Commercial
impressed in Abu Dhabi 12 months in the past with a double podium, which put it simply wanting overhauling McLaren to the F1 world constructors’ championship. However that type isn’t anticipated from the Scuderia this weekend, which signifies that Hamilton’s possibilities of holding off Antonelli stay slim. Whether or not the Brit finishes sixth or seventh within the drivers’ standings gained’t actually matter. However would ending up behind the rookie chosen to take his spot when he opted to depart Mercedes for Ferrari?
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
One final race for F1’s ground-effect automobiles – Ed Hardy
The 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was a possibility to say goodbye to a number of drivers who have been leaving F1 as a result of grid shake-up for 2025. That record included , , , and , as they have been all racing their closing grand prix for the foreseeable future – although a couple of of them will likely be racing in 2026 – with many rookies coming in for this 12 months.
Commercial
Though that’s not fairly the case once more this weekend, solely is dropping off the grid, the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will likely be a possibility to say goodbye to the ground-effect period as an alternative. That’s as a result of a brand new set of rules will come into power in 2026, with automobiles set to turn out to be lighter and smaller, whereas there will likely be an elevated emphasis on electrical power, which can have a close to 50-50 break up with the interior combustion unit subsequent 12 months.
So, discover a second to soak up these automobiles as a result of the racing guarantees to look very totally different in 2026. Is {that a} good factor? Nicely, it’s debatable. Some argue the ground-effect period hasn’t labored as supposed as a result of there’s nonetheless an absence of overtaking and the automobiles haven’t been probably the most satisfying for drivers, however the pecking order has been extremely tight and continuously modified…
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Alexander Albon, Williams
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Alexander Albon, Williams
Can Yuki Tsunoda finish his F1 profession on a excessive – Owen Bellwood
Crimson Bull confirmed the driving force lineups for its senior staff and the Racing Bulls junior aspect this week, with becoming a member of Verstappen at , and making the step as much as F1 to companion . Within the reshuffle, Yuki Tsunoda loses his full-time race seat to take a reserve driver function at Crimson Bull – bringing his stint in F1 to an finish after 5 seasons.
Commercial
Learn Additionally:
The information signifies that Abu Dhabi may very well be Tsunoda’s closing race in F1, bringing a tricky season to an in depth and rounding out a profession that confirmed flashes of actual promise. Tsunoda’s greatest outcome was fourth place in Abu Dhabi for Alpha Tauri in his first season within the sequence, and he is since fought for factors to try to safe his F1 future.
Now, the Japanese driver will likely be hoping to emulate his 2021 outcome and finish the 12 months on a excessive – regardless of spending nearly all of the season struggling along with his RB21. This appeared like an actual risk within the early levels of final weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix, with Tsunoda out-qualifying Verstappen for the primary time forward of the dash. However, his type got here unstuck in Sunday’s grand prix.
Right here’s hoping he can lastly put collectively a powerful weekend with Crimson Bull in Abu Dhabi.
Yuki Tsunoda, Crimson Bull Racing Group
Yuki Tsunoda, Crimson Bull Racing Group
To learn extra Motorsport.com articles .
