The Final Weekend of F1: Why You Can’t Miss the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The final weekend of the 2025 Formula 1 season brings a level of intensity that casual fans won’t often get to witness. For the first time since 2010, when the title came down to a four-way fight, three drivers are still mathematically in the hunt for the World Championship. The race is happening this Sunday and here’s why it’s the one you don’t want to miss. 

What is F1?

Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport, a high-speed racing competition where the world’s best drivers battle it out on tracks across the globe. The goal? To cross the finish line first, of course, but there’s more to it than that.

The competition involves 20 drivers and 10 teams, each fielding two cars. The drivers race on specially designed circuits that range from street tracks like Monaco to traditional racetracks such as Silverstone in England. These cars aren’t just fast, they are engineering marvels designed to go from 0 to 100km/h in under 2.5 seconds, reach speeds of over 300km/h, and take corners like they’re glued to the road.

It’s an extremely gruelling sport physically. F1 drivers experience up to 5G (a force that is five times stronger than the force of gravity on Earth) during high-speed corners, where the forces push them hard into their seats, testing their physical endurance and focus to the limit.

The Basics of F1 Rules

While F1 may look chaotic, there’s a deep strategy to it. Each race lasts for about an hour and a half and is broken down into laps, usually around 58 per race, such as at the upcoming Abu Dhabi GP.

Points are awarded based on finishing position: first place gets 25 points, second gets 18, third gets 15, and so on. The more consistently a driver finishes, the higher their total points, and that’s what determines who wins the World Drivers’ Championship at the end of the season.

Now, here’s the kicker: not all races are created equal. The final race, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, could see any of the three remaining contenders crowned world champion, making it a must-watch.

The Contenders

Lando Norris – The One to Beat

Lando Norris, the 25-year-old British driver who drives for McLaren, enters the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as the leader of the championship, holding a slim 12-point advantage over Max Verstappen. Norris is searching for his maiden Formula 1 title. To win the championship, he needs to finish in third place or higher.

Norris himself knows the pressure is immense. As he said earlier this week, “In terms of position, of course, I have the most to lose because I am the one at the top.” But his mentality is one of defiance: “I also feel like I have the mentality of 'I have nothing to lose,' because it's just a race for a championship.”

Max Verstappen – The Reigning Champ

In second place is four-time reigning champion Max Verstappen. Verstappen, who drives for the powerhouse Red Bull team, needs to win, and for Norris to finish in fourth place or lower for the championship to swing back in his favour.

Verstappen’s approach is calm. When asked about the pressure of the final race, he said, “I’m very relaxed, nothing to lose, you know? To me, everything here is just a bonus and sitting here fighting for the title.”

Oscar Piastri – The Long Shot

But there’s one more driver who could sneak in and claim the championship in what would be an incredible upset: Oscar Piastri. Piastri, who drives for McLaren alongside Norris, is 16 points behind his teammate. For him to win, he needs to win the race and hope that Norris finishes outside the top five.
Despite knowing his chances are slim he hasn’t given up and said he “will just make sure I'm in the right place at the right time and see what happens”.

Don’t Miss It

With 58 laps of intense racing, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix promises to be a thrilling ride. Whether you’re new to the sport or an old fan, this is one race you won’t want to miss.

So mark your calendars: Sunday, 7 December, 3:00PM SA time. Be ready for an hour or so of pure adrenaline, high-stakes drama, and a battle for the crown that’s too close to call.