![\"McLaren](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dae76a5a5e42ca54cb92b28b4e474947Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzY1MTI1OTM3-2.82691308.jpg\")
McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri with pole sitter Max Verstappen (David Davies\/PA) (PA Wire)Read more<\/p>\nWhat time is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?<\/p>\n
The season-finale at the Yas Marina Circuit is at 1pm (GMT).<\/p>\n
McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri with pole sitter Max Verstappen (David Davies\/PA) (PA Wire)Read more<\/p>\n
Kieran Jackson6 December 2025 18:59<\/p>\n
<\/a>Charles Leclerc, who started P5:<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m satisfied with my lap in Q3 and I don\u2019t 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. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m 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\u2019t get our hopes up too high, because the cars ahead are very fast. It\u2019s up to us to maximise our result tomorrow, and I\u2019ll do my best to take action at the start and hope to bring home a last podium for our whole team this season.\u201d<\/p>\n Kieran Jackson7 December 2025 04:00<\/p>\n <\/a>Lewis Hamilton on drivers’ end-of-season dinner:<\/p>\n \u201cClass of 2025. We\u2019re the only people in the world to do what we do and for that we\u2019re incredibly lucky. I\u2019m grateful for this group of drivers I have the privilege of racing against and even though we\u2019re competitors, there\u2019s nothing but respect and I\u2019m proud to call them friends. <\/p>\n \u201cHope to give you all a great last race of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n Kieran Jackson7 December 2025 03:00<\/p>\n <\/a>Lando Norris can play it down all he likes \u2013 an F1 world title would put him among the elite<\/p>\n 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\u2019s governing body grouped together the top three on Thursday. <\/p>\n It made for a background buzz rarely seen in modern-day sporting press conferences.<\/p>\n Jack Rathborn7 December 2025 01:00<\/p>\n <\/a>ANALYSIS: The three F1 title finales that show why Lando Norris is far from safe in Abu Dhabi<\/p>\n This weekend\u2019s three-way fight in the desert is the first F1<\/a> 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<\/a>\u2019s first of four triumphs, and other shock winners before him on the final day, are telling case studies for Sunday\u2019s final curtain call.<\/p>\n Kieran Jackson7 December 2025 01:00<\/p>\n <\/a>British F1 world champions<\/p>\n Can Norris join this special list? <\/p>\n 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)<\/p>\n Kieran Jackson7 December 2025 00:00<\/p>\n <\/a>F1 2025 season awards: Why Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari is by far the biggest disappointment<\/p>\n The F1<\/a> drivers\u2019 championship comes down to the final race in Abu Dhabi this weekend, with Lando Norris<\/a> primed for a maiden title and hoping to fend off Red Bull\u2019s four-time champion Max Verstappen<\/a> and McLaren<\/a> teammate Oscar Piastri.<\/p>\n While the drama has been at the front of the grid, the woeful year for Ferrari<\/a>, and in particular Lewis Hamilton<\/a>, has been a painful storyline for fans of the seven-time world champion and the Scuderia.<\/p>\n The reshuffle for the grid in 2026 is now set, too, with Isack Hadjar\u2019s rise at Red Bull and a debut campaign awaiting British teenager Arvid Lindblad.<\/p>\n While 2026 also signals the return of Adrian Newey as the new team principal at Aston Martin F1, taking over from Andy Cowell.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how everything went down in 2025 with Independent Sport\u2019s picks:<\/p>\n Kieran Jackson6 December 2025 23:00<\/p>\n <\/a>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) <\/p>\n Kieran Jackson6 December 2025 22:00<\/p>\n <\/a>I will try and win, insists Norris<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n Lawrence Ostlere6 December 2025 21:00<\/p>\n <\/a>Lewis Hamilton reveals \u2018anger and rage\u2019 after desperate Ferrari F1 campaign<\/p>\n Lewis Hamilton<\/a> said he was full of \u201canger and rage\u201d after another desperate qualifying performance for the seven-time world champion. <\/p>\n The 40-year-old, who has endured a torrid debut season for Ferrari<\/a>, was knocked out in Q1 for the third consecutive race and will start Sunday\u2019s Abu Dhabi<\/a> Grand Prix in 16th place. <\/p>\n![\"Charles](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/32bb87790d2ebfad2f24938b9f29d3d5Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzY0MzQ0ODcy-2.81506482.jpg\")
Charles Leclerc starts in fifth (PA Wire)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-05-at-11-48-50.png\")
The F1 drivers gather for their 2025 end-of-season dinner (Instagram – lewishamilton)<\/p>\n![\"Norris](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SEI277030074.jpeg\")
Norris leaves the pit lane during in qualifying (AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n