What time is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?
The season-finale at the Yas Marina Circuit is at 1pm (GMT).
McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri with pole sitter Max Verstappen (David Davies/PA) (PA Wire)Read more
Kieran Jackson6 December 2025 18:59
Charles Leclerc, who started P5:
“I’m satisfied with my lap in Q3 and I don’t think there was much more to extract today. I feel that our team has done a really good job in turning things around this weekend. We made some changes on the set-up between FP2 and FP3, and if paid off.
“I’m looking forward to the race tomorrow, to see if the changes we made will also help us to get ahead in the race. We can’t get our hopes up too high, because the cars ahead are very fast. It’s up to us to maximise our result tomorrow, and I’ll do my best to take action at the start and hope to bring home a last podium for our whole team this season.”
Charles Leclerc starts in fifth (PA Wire)
Kieran Jackson7 December 2025 04:00
Lewis Hamilton on drivers’ end-of-season dinner:
“Class of 2025. We’re the only people in the world to do what we do and for that we’re incredibly lucky. I’m grateful for this group of drivers I have the privilege of racing against and even though we’re competitors, there’s nothing but respect and I’m proud to call them friends.
“Hope to give you all a great last race of the season.”
The F1 drivers gather for their 2025 end-of-season dinner (Instagram – lewishamilton)
Kieran Jackson7 December 2025 03:00
Lando Norris can play it down all he likes – an F1 world title would put him among the elite
With barely any space to squeeze through the dozen-row deep horde of reporters and photographers, the three Formula One championship protagonists entered their first arena of the weekend. The FIA have been prone to lapses in common sense at times but, to the delight of all present, F1’s governing body grouped together the top three on Thursday.
It made for a background buzz rarely seen in modern-day sporting press conferences.
Jack Rathborn7 December 2025 01:00
ANALYSIS: The three F1 title finales that show why Lando Norris is far from safe in Abu Dhabi
This weekend’s three-way fight in the desert is the first F1 championship-decider involving more than two drivers for 15 years. Back then, a four-way hammer-and-tong concluded with a surprise champion at the chequered flag: Sebastian Vettel’s first of four triumphs, and other shock winners before him on the final day, are telling case studies for Sunday’s final curtain call.
Kieran Jackson7 December 2025 01:00
Can Norris join this special list?
Mike Hawthorn (1958)Graham Hill (1962, 1968)Jim Clark (1963, 1965)John Surtees (1964)2) Sir Jackie Stewart (1969, 1971, 1973)James Hunt (1976)Nigel Mansell (1992)Damon Hill (1996)Lewis Hamilton (2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)Jenson Button (2009)
Kieran Jackson7 December 2025 00:00
F1 2025 season awards: Why Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari is by far the biggest disappointment
The F1 drivers’ championship comes down to the final race in Abu Dhabi this weekend, with Lando Norris primed for a maiden title and hoping to fend off Red Bull’s four-time champion Max Verstappen and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.
While the drama has been at the front of the grid, the woeful year for Ferrari, and in particular Lewis Hamilton, has been a painful storyline for fans of the seven-time world champion and the Scuderia.
The reshuffle for the grid in 2026 is now set, too, with Isack Hadjar’s rise at Red Bull and a debut campaign awaiting British teenager Arvid Lindblad.
While 2026 also signals the return of Adrian Newey as the new team principal at Aston Martin F1, taking over from Andy Cowell.
Here’s how everything went down in 2025 with Independent Sport’s picks:
Kieran Jackson6 December 2025 23:00
Full starting grid for Abu Dhabi GP:Verstappen (Red Bull) Norris (McLaren) Piastri (McLaren) Russell (Mercedes) Leclerc (Ferrari) Alonso (Aston Martin) Bortoleto (Sauber) Ocon (Haas) Hadjar (RB) Tsunoda (Red Bull) Oliver Bearman (Haas) Carlos Sainz (Williams) Liam Lawson (RB) Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) Alex Albon (Williams) Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) Pierre Gasly (Alpine) Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
Kieran Jackson6 December 2025 22:00
I will try and win, insists Norris
Norris will be assured of his first world title if he finishes third regardless of where Verstappen ends Sunday’s decisive 58-lap in the desert.
But Norris is set for a restless night with Verstappen, 12 points behind in the standings, holding the advantage heading into the decider and team-mate Piastri, 16 points adrift, alongside him in third.
Asked if he will be happy to settle for third place on Sunday, Norris said: “The time will come on that, but for now I am disappointed not to be on pole. I will try and win tomorrow and that is the goal.
“It is tough. Max did a good job so congrats to him. I thought my lap was pretty good. I am disappointed not to be on pole but we were not fast enough today so we have to go again tomorrow.”
Norris leaves the pit lane during in qualifying (AFP via Getty Images)
Lawrence Ostlere6 December 2025 21:00
Lewis Hamilton reveals ‘anger and rage’ after desperate Ferrari F1 campaign
Lewis Hamilton said he was full of “anger and rage” after another desperate qualifying performance for the seven-time world champion.
The 40-year-old, who has endured a torrid debut season for Ferrari, was knocked out in Q1 for the third consecutive race and will start Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 16th place.
Hamilton, who is now set for his first season without a podium, has been out-qualified by teammate Charles Leclerc (who qualified fifth in Abu Dhabi) on 19 out of 24 occasions.
Kieran Jackson6 December 2025 19:59