2025 F1 Abu Dhabi GP: Race Predictions

The grid for the 2025 F1 Abu Dhabi GP is set, and we have Max Verstappen on pole position with Lando Norris lining up alongside him. The title decider will have the protagonists start right alongside each other, with the third one, Oscar Piastri, right behind them.

With the F1 Abu Dhabi GP being the first time since 2010 where we have more than two drivers in title contention, there's still all to play for. The start would be important, but rest assured, the start is not everything, as we all realized 4 years back.

With that being said, as we get ready for the title decider, what can we expect from the race? Let's take a look.

#5 You're going to see a few wild results

Let's get one thing straight: there are going to be a few wild results this time around. The race is not going to be a straightforward flag-to-flag procession that we're accustomed to, it's more of a case of the whole event being dictated by the title battle that would involve one team willing to try everything in the book to win.

So, buckle up, because unless something drastic happens early on, the F1 Abu Dhabi GP is going to be edge-of-the-seat in so many ways.

#4 If Max Verstappen leads after lap 1, expect a repeat of Abu Dhabi GP 2016

If Max Verstappen is able to execute a start where he holds on to the lead at the end of the first lap, be ready to have different kinds of shenanigans that the driver could potentially attempt to secure the title. The equation for the Red Bull driver is quite simple. If he wins, Lando Norris has to be off the podium to seal the title.

To make sure that something of that sort happens, the Dutch driver is going to try and bunch the field up, leading to opportunities opening up for drivers behind to maybe have a lunge on the championship leader.

We are potentially looking at a repeat of the 2016 F1 Abu Dhabi GP, where Max Verstappen assumes the role of Lewis Hamilton, while Lando Norris is Nico Rosberg in this case.

#3 Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton make their way through the field

Both Mercedes and Ferrari are fundamentally faster cars that have poor qualifying performances. Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton will be starting the race outside of the top 10, and if Max Verstappen's tactics of slowing and bunching up the field are in play, expect these two drivers to make the most of it as they make their way through the field.

#2 George Russell or Charles Leclerc is a wildcard for the race

George Russell and Charles Leclerc are not in the championship battle, and they're starting the race right behind the top 3. At the same time, while neither would want to get involved in the title battle, they would be more than happy to secure a podium or even a win if it were on the table.

The potential of Max Verstappen playing a few tricky games is certainly there, and if either of these drivers is handed an opportunity during the F1 Abu Dhabi GP, they're going to take it.

These two drivers are the dark horses for the race, and it would be interesting to see what role they end up playing in the race.

#1 Max Verstappen wins the 2025 F1 Abu Dhabi GP

Max Verstappen starts the race on pole position, and even though he might not have lights-out race pace, it is good enough for him to be competitive against the McLaren duo should it come to that. At the same time, the kind of advantage that Verstappen has on the straights means he'll be a factor for the race lead even if he has a bad start and Norris slips through.

Overall, it does appear that the Dutch driver is the favorite to win the F1 Abu Dhabi GP, even though there are going to be a few shenanigans at play during the race.

Title prediction: Lando Norris wins the 2025 F1 title

Finally, when it comes to the title battle, we're going with Lando Norris. The McLaren driver has to finish on the podium to secure his first championship, and he has the car under him to achieve it.

What also works for the Brit is the fact that he has Oscar Piastri right behind him, who might be forced to be a more pliant teammate who does not go for the lunge when Verstappen backs up the field.

Unless McLaren messes up the strategy big time, something the team has had a tendency to do, we're looking at a straightforward race where Norris seals the title.