Lights, engines, roof-raising cheers, the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix delivered exactly the drama and spectacle all had hoped for.
From Friday practice to Sunday’s final lap, fans were treated to one of the most electric finale weekends in recent memory.
Title decider under the Yas Marina lights
When the race began, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen shot off the line and immediately took command, with Lando Norris and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri close behind.
But while Verstappen aimed for the win, Norris had his eyes on the bigger prize. As the laps ticked down every move mattered, as every pit-stop and tyre decision carried weight.
A strong start by Piastri demoted Norris to third early on, adding pressure to the favourite. Challenges came thick and fast, with a relentless chase by Charles Leclerc for Ferrari, who provided a threat to Norris’ title-winning position for most of the race.
Yet through it all, Norris remained calm. He clawed his way back, executed decisive overtakes, and kept the podium place he needed.
He crossed the line in third place behind Verstappen and Piastri, but that was enough. With that position, Norris clinched his first-ever World Drivers’ Championship, finishing the season just two points ahead of Verstappen.
At 26, he became the 11th British F1 champion and the first for McLaren F1 Team since 2008.
The emotion, the history, the night to remember
As the chequered flag flew and the floodlights glowed, emotions swelled. Norris, visibly moved, thanked his family and his team, after a journey that began years ago.
For McLaren, it was a full-circle moment. The team reclaimed the crown they’d not held for nearly two decades.
For fans in Abu Dhabi and around the globe, it was a reminder of the drama, skill and unpredictability that make Formula 1 so thrilling.
A weekend to savour
Beyond the tension of the title fight, the three-day event delivered on all fronts. Practice sessions, qualifying duels, off-track fan energy, the atmosphere was electric.
When the sun set and the lights came on, Yas Marina turned into a vibrant cauldron of noise, colour and excitement.
Whether you were track-side or watching from home, you could feel the buzz. The roar of engines, the gasp of every overtake, and the pounding heartbeats as championship hopes hung in the balance.
As the 2025 season closes, one thing is clear, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix gave us a finale worthy of the build-up. And with a new champion crowned, the stage is already set for next year!
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