The 2025 Formula 1 season has entered its decisive run. McLaren has wrapped up the Constructors’ Championship with time to spare, yet the Drivers’ title remains alive as the travelling show prepares for the Americas swing and a showpiece finale at Yas Marina Circuit in December. Here is the state of play from the past month, what it means for the remaining rounds, and how to experience the season’s last word in style.
The excitement is building as fans eagerly anticipate the f1 abu dhabi 2025 finale, expected to showcase the season’s best performances.
McLaren crowned in Singapore
McLaren’s year of authority reached its milestone at the Singapore Grand Prix, where the team sealed the 2025 Constructors’ Championship with six races still to run. It is a tenth title for the Woking outfit and confirms a back-to-back success after last year’s breakthrough. The foundation has been consistency: two quick drivers, an efficient development path, and race operations that have converted pace into points across a wide variety of circuit layouts.
On the night, George Russell won for Mercedes from pole, with Max Verstappen second and Lando Norris third. Oscar Piastri followed in fourth to complete the haul that pushed McLaren over the line. The finishing order matters less for the title picture than the pattern it reveals. McLaren did not need to win to bank decisive points, which is exactly how most Constructors’ crowns are built.
The only cloud over the celebration was a flash of friendly fire. Norris and Piastri made contact early in the race, and both later acknowledged that internal consequences would follow. The team emphasised a clear policy on clean racing between team-mates. The incident did not derail Singapore, and the pair remain on course to take the Drivers’ fight deep into the final fly-aways, but it sharpened the focus on McLaren’s need to manage risk when the biggest prizes are at stake.
The Drivers’ Championship: three into one
With the constructors’ trophy decided, attention narrows to the individual battle. Piastri continues to set the pace on points, Norris is within range, and Verstappen lurks as the proven closer. The last four weeks have underlined how tight the margins are. McLaren’s qualifying form has been a strength, Red Bull’s race-day tyre life has improved, and Mercedes have shown the ability to win when the window suits them.
A clean run from Piastri would make him difficult to catch, yet recent history says that pressure late in a campaign finds unusual ways to express itself. Any intra-team friction at McLaren will be scrutinised from now to Abu Dhabi. Norris has been frank about accepting responsibility for the Singapore contact. Piastri has been equally clear that expectations inside the garage are understood. The next Sprint weekend in Austin brings more jeopardy and more points, and it arrives before two circuits where Verstappen traditionally extracts maximum value. The contest should remain live all the way to Yas.
Mercedes lock in their 2026 pairing
Beyond the title race, the most significant news item of the last fortnight came from Brackley. Mercedes have confirmed George Russell and Kimi Antonelli as their 2026 driver line-up, closing the door on speculation about the post-Hamilton direction. The announcement gives the team continuity through next year’s technical reset and frees resources to focus on performance rather than market manoeuvring.
Russell’s Singapore victory was timely. On a track that punished mistakes, he delivered a clean, controlled lights-to-flag drive. It offered a reminder that Mercedes are still organised and opportunistic enough to pounce when their car is in the sweet spot. The public tone from the camp is measured optimism. The priority is to end 2025 strongly and convert learning into a platform for the new regulations.
Ferrari’s steady, unspectacular autumn
Ferrari’s first season with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc has been respectable rather than headline-grabbing. The Scuderia have a solid points base and occasional flashes of podium pace, but not yet the repeatable balance to threaten McLaren over full race distances. Hamilton has spoken about searching for a wider operating window and has brushed away off-track rumour to keep the emphasis on development. Leclerc has been the reference over a single lap on several weekends, while race-day consistency remains the focus. The target for the final swing is straightforward: podiums and clear direction for 2026.
The calendar from here
As of mid-October, there are six rounds left. The United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas opens the Americas run with a Sprint format. Mexico City’s altitude and cooling present unique demands a week later. Interlagos is next, with its old-school layout and variable weather. Las Vegas follows under the lights, where tyre warm-up and safety cars often shape strategy more than pure pace. Qatar brings a fast, flowing test one week before the finale.
The shape of those tracks makes the drivers’ duel difficult to call. McLaren’s efficiency through medium-speed complexes should translate well to Austin, Mexico and Brazil. Red Bull’s low-drag solutions and Verstappen’s race craft are a natural fit for Las Vegas and for the cooler night conditions that close the season. It sets up a chain of contrasting tests before everything converges at Yas Marina.
Abu Dhabi finale: 5 to 7 December 2025
The season concludes at Yas Marina Circuit from Friday 5 December to Sunday 7 December 2025 for the official Formula 1 sessions, with wider event programming on Thursday 4 December. The schedule follows the established pattern of Friday practice, Saturday qualifying, and a Sunday twilight race. The venue’s character remains unique. Long acceleration zones reward efficiency, while the tight final sector punishes any weakness in traction or tyre management. With daylight practice feeding into an evening race, track evolution often muddles read-throughs. Teams need discipline to trust the numbers and not over-react to Friday noise.
Around the track, the event has grown into a city-wide festival. The Yasalam after-race concerts are a central part of the experience, with this year’s programming mixing major electronic shows with live sets across the weekend. For many long-haul visitors, the combination of sport and entertainment is the justification for making Abu Dhabi the one race they attend each year.
Hospitality and how to watch it well
If you are planning to be at the finale, premium access can transform the weekend from memorable to unforgettable. ES Sport offer official hospitality packages across Yas Marina that pair strong sightlines with curated service. Two of their standout options are the Shams Suite and the Sunset Lounge.
Shams Suite sits in a prime position overlooking the long Yas straight and the Turn 5 hairpin. The vantage point captures the heavy braking zone and the slingshot onto the back straight, which is one of the best places to witness overtakes. Inside, guests can expect a private suite environment, gourmet menus, a hosted bar, and an all-day programme of live entertainment and interactive experiences. Multi-day access covers practice, qualifying, and race day, with guided elements available on selected days.
Sunset Lounge offers a different flavour. The terrace-style setting is designed to catch the golden-hour atmosphere as the light drops into the evening. Packages include a premium open bar, chef-led stations, and access to surrounding Oasis areas. For corporate groups, the space works well as a hosted environment while still feeling connected to the wider energy of the venue.
Both options focus on removing the frictions that can trip up a sell-out finale. That means straightforward entry, movement that does not cost you the start, and a clear view when the race reaches its turning points. With demand spiking when titles are at stake, availability is limited, so early booking is sensible.
What matters most in the run-in
From a sporting perspective, three themes will decide the championship. First, intra-team discipline at McLaren. Points lost to unnecessary skirmishes are doubly costly when the nearest rival is Verstappen. Second, tyre life after dark. The temperature swing at night races can alter the competitive order by exposing cars that only switch on their rubber in hotter conditions. Third, execution on Sprint weekends. The extra points on Saturday in Austin could either extend Piastri’s margin or give Verstappen the foothold he needs.
The secondary storylines matter too. Williams continue to punch above their weight in qualifying. Aston Martin are often more dangerous on Sundays than their Saturdays suggest. Mercedes, under Russell’s steady hand, are quietly banking data for 2026, and Ferrari’s push for predictable balance could yet turn the odd weekend into a podium.
What is certain is that the season will end under floodlights with the title still in play. The pattern of 2025 has been competitive, tense, and occasionally fractious. It is exactly the mixture that creates memorable finales.
The bottom line
McLaren’s tenth constructors’ title is secure. The Drivers’ crown is not. Six weeks from now, the sport will decamp to Yas Island for a weekend that blends a strategic chess match with a city-scale celebration. Whether you plan to travel or prefer to follow from home, the road from Austin to Abu Dhabi promises a finish worthy of a season that has reshaped the running order at the very top.
Related Articles
With the Gap Shrinking and Max Back on Form, How Will the F1 Championship Unfold Ahead of Abu Dhabi?
Dubai Beckons: What to Expect from the 2025 Emirates Dubai 7s with ES Sport Hospitality
Cadillac Steps Into Formula 1: Pérez, Bottas and an Abu Dhabi Grid Penalty Twist
