2025 F1 Abu Dhabi GP: Preview and Predictions

The 2025 F1 Abu Dhabi GP will host the championship decider for the primary time since that fateful evening in 2021. We have Lando Norris main the championship by simply 12 factors, with Max Verstappen in P2 and Oscar Piastri in P3, an additional 4 factors behind.

At the halfway level of the season, not many would have anticipated a state of affairs the place Oscar Piastri can be third within the championship, and Max Verstappen would have a sensible likelihood of successful the title. Such have been the twists and turns that right here we at the moment are, after 4 years, with a title decider on the Yas Marina Circuit.

So what can we count on from the F1 Abu Dhabi GP? Let’s check out our preview for the race.

2025 F1 Abu Dhabi GP: Preview

Key Storylines

#1 The title battle permutations

If Lando Norris finishes the F1 Abu Dhabi GP on the rostrum, he is received the title. It’s so simple as that for the British driver. At the identical time, although, this can be a condensed area the place the gaps in tempo between the groups usually are not a lot.

At the identical time, there’s not a lot readability on who might have the quicker automobile right here, as each Red Bull and McLaren would have their respective strengths and weaknesses. What we all know for positive is that come race weekend, we will have Max Verstappen, who had his group take the thoughts video games to an entire different stage.

#2 The debacle of Qatar and the Papaya Rules

One factor that may have shaken the arrogance of McLaren is what occurred in Qatar. That was a debacle of epic proportions the place the group kind of gifted Max Verstappen a win. The difficulty with such a scenario is that the group has been gifting factors to the Dutch driver in loads within the final couple of races, and now it’s beginning to harm.

To add to this, McLaren goes into the F1 Abu Dhabi GP with not one however two title contenders. How does it keep ‘equity’ and the way it doesn’t find yourself popping out of it with a loss goes to be essential for the group’s long-term confidence and success.

#3 Shades of 2016 title decider

For new followers, the 2016 F1 title decider is presumably the most effective reference materials in the event that they’re attempting to know how the 2025 F1 Abu Dhabi GP might pan out.

In that race, Lewis Hamilton slowed down your complete area and held Nico Rosberg behind with the hopes of different drivers leaping the German and serving to the Brit win the championship.

With Max Verstappen needing to win the race and Lando Norris ending off the rostrum because the requirement to win the title, we could be one thing comparable ought to the Red Bull driver be within the lead of the race and the McLaren driver proper behind him.

Form Guide

In Form

It’s exhausting to look past Max Verstappen right here. The Dutch driver has been on a rampage within the second half of the season and now has the identical variety of wins because the McLaren duo. He could be 12 factors behind Lando Norris within the championship, however form-wise, he may simply be the favourite to win all of it this weekend.

Out of Form

It’s the 2025 F1 Constructors champions which can be woefully off form coming into the F1 Abu Dhabi GP. The gifted factors to Max Verstappen in Las Vegas when each vehicles had been disqualified. They ended up having a poor technique for each the drivers in Qatar, and therefore we’re right here.

In Abu Dhabi, the group is determined for an easy race the place there aren’t any robust calls wanted to be made as a result of it does seem that the group won’t be too trusting of the calls by the technique unit after the previous few occasions.

Driver with the largest highlight

If Max Verstappen wins the championship, he’ll turn out to be the primary driver since Michael Schumacher to win 5 consecutive championships. He additionally betters his document of overcoming the largest ever factors deficit to win the title.

Most importantly, that is the weekend when he has the momentum, and all the eye on the planet goes to be on him.

2025 F1 Abu Dhabi GP: Predictions

Who wins the race?

This could be a simple one as a result of it is exhausting to look past Max Verstappen proper now. Even within the worst-case state of affairs, Red Bull goes to be the second-fastest automobile, and the motive force is beginning the race on the second row.

It would come as a shock to nobody if Max Verstappen divebombs his rivals into the lead firstly or on the finish of the 2 lengthy straights. From that time onwards, it is all about managing the race. Whether he wins the title or not remains to be an even bigger query, but when we’re making the decision on who wins the F1 Abu Dhabi GP, then our choose is Max Verstappen.

Biggest shock of the weekend? (Team)

Kimi Antonelli’s latest type has been a shining mild for Mercedes, because the younger rookie has proven spectacular development over the season. In the final 4 races, Antonelli has completed forward of his teammate thrice.

The incontrovertible fact that the teammate is George Russell is a fair greater constructive. For the F1 Abu Dhabi GP, the Mercedes goes to be a decently aggressive automobile, and we count on younger Kimi to be an element within the battle for the rostrum.

Biggest shock of the weekend? (Driver)

Long straights have typically been a Williams forte this season because the automobile has continued to place collectively good weekends. With P5 within the championship sealed and momentum on its facet, count on the group to combine issues up with the frontrunners.

Biggest disappointment of the weekend? (Team)

Yuki Tsunoda’s F1 run could be coming to a halt after the Abu Dhabi GP. If the rumors are to be believed then the Japanese driver could be on his method out of Red Bull and changed by Isack Hadjar.

The Japanese driver can be hoping to do nicely, however at a group the place the second driver usually will get uncared for, which may not be occurring this weekend both.

Biggest disappointment of the weekend? (Driver)

Not to be the bearer of unhealthy information, however this won’t be the most effective weekend for McLaren. The group tends of creating unsuitable calls when occasions are tense. They will not get any extra tense than the title decider, and we’d see a number of questionable calls by the group within the F1 Abu Dhabi GP.