The shimmering lights of the Yas Marina Circuit once again provided a fitting backdrop for a dramatic season finale as the 2026 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix drew the curtain on an extraordinary season of Formula 1. The Grand Prix weekend lived up to its reputation as the grand decider of the driver’s title.
But the story of 2025 isn’t really about who won the last race; it’s about who held their nerve when it mattered most.
The Title Battle: How It All Came Down
Heading into Abu Dhabi, the championship battle was tight. Three drivers entered the weekend with a shot:
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
What made the final Grand Prix so tense and so sensational was that the championship wasn’t just decided by who won in Abu Dhabi, but by who managed the risk, the strategy, and the pressure.
Norris entered knowing he needed a solid finish: a podium (top 3) would clinch the championship regardless of what his rivals did.
Verstappen’s “all-out win” bid was obvious: he had to win outright and hope Norris faltered, finishing 4th place or below.
For Piastri, it was a quest to maximise pressure; a win or extreme result could hand him the crown if others slipped. What unfolded was a masterclass in race strategy, mental toughness and team coordination.
The Race: Win, Podium and Championship for Norris
When the lights went out, the early laps saw Piastri pass Norris to slot into second place, a sign McLaren was pushing hard to maximise their title chances. As the race progressed, tyre strategies, pit-stop timing and on-track battles became critical. Norris, after pitting for a second time, had to thread his way through traffic and older, tire-worn cars, a tricky, high-pressure undertaking. Verstappen led strongly, setting himself up for a potential fifth consecutive driver’s title.
In the end, it was a bittersweet finish: Verstappen crossed the line first, claiming the race win; Piastri followed in second, but it was Norris, quietly consistent and strategic, who finished third and clinched his first championship title.
With that third place, Norris sealed the title by a narrow margin, just two points ahead of Verstappen in the final standings.
What It Means: End of an Era, Start of a New Chapter
Norris’s title triumph marks several significant milestones:
- He becomes a world champion for the first time.
- For McLaren, it’s the first driver’s title since 2008, and more importantly, it cements a season of resurgence for the storied British team.
- It ends Verstappen’s four-year championship dominance, shaking up the hierarchy of Formula 1.
As paddocks around the world reset for the 2026 season with new cars, evolving regulations and fresh ambitions, the podium at Yas Marina will long be remembered as the moment when the crown changed hands.
Looking Ahead: What to Watch in 2026
With new technical rules coming for 2026, teams will once again start from a clean slate. The success of McLaren under pressure, and Norris’s calm under fire, raises expectations: can McLaren build on this triumph? Can Verstappen bounce back? Will Piastri push for his own crown?
One thing is for sure: after an Abu Dhabi finale for the ages, Formula 1 will head into 2026 with renewed uncertainty and plenty of excitement.
What the 2026 calendar looks like
11– 13 Feb: Sakhir (Testing)
18 – 20 Feb: Sakhir (Testing)
6 – 8 Mar: Round 1 Australia
13 – 15 Mar: Round 2 China
27 – 29 Mar: Round 3 Japan
10 – 12 Apr: Round 4 Bahrain
17 – 19 Apr: Round 5 Saudi Arabia
01 – 03 May: Round 6 Miami
22 – 24 May: Round 7 Canada
05 – 07 Jun: Round 8 Monaco
12 – 14 Jun: Round 9 Barcelona-Catalunya
26 – 28 Jun: Round 10 Austria
03 – 05 Jul: Round 11 Great Britain
17 – 19 Jul: Round 12 Belgium
24 – 26 Jul: Round 13 Hungary
21 – 23 Aug: Round 14 Netherlands
04 – 06 Sep: Round 15 Italy
11 – 13 Sep: Round 16 Spain
24 – 26 Sep: Round 17 Azerbaijan
09 – 11 Oct: Round 18 Singapore
23 – 25 Oct: Round 19 United States
30 Oct – 01 Nov: Round 20 Mexico
06 – 08 Nov: Round 21 Brazil
19 – 21 Nov: Round 22 Las Vegas
27 – 29 Nov: Round 23 Qatar
04 – 06 Dec: Round 24 Abu Dhabi