The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been some of the electrical occasions on the System 1 calendar because it brings every season to a detailed, and 2025 was no totally different the place it doubled up as a nail-biting championship decider. The power was palpable all weekend lengthy, and with all of the motion on and off-track, Yas Marina by no means fails to shut out the season in an epic vogue.
Regardless of one of the best efforts from Max Verstappen, his Grand Prix win was not sufficient to say his fifth world title, as Lando Norris secured his maiden championship by ending P3. There was lots to speak about on observe, with penalties, workforce techniques and overtakes galore – however these weren’t the one tales from this epic weekend. Listed here are some magic moments you must find out about from the season finale.
Championship celebrations
You always remember your first world title – and Norris actually received’t be forgetting this one. In his seventh System 1 season, the Brit lastly grew to become a World Champion in Abu Dhabi, and the emotion hit him as quickly as he took the chequered flag!
As he climbed out of the cockpit, his mother and father, Cisca and Adam, have been already there ready for him, who might barely include their pleasure. Then got here Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, his title rivals all 12 months lengthy, providing real smiles and heat embraces – a heartwarming second from every competitor after such a hard-fought season.
However issues actually kicked off when Lando made it again to the McLaren storage, the place the workforce launched straight into full celebration mode, drenching him with an avalanche of champagne. We hope somebody fetched him a towel!
And since no British celebration is full with out it, the evening ended with movies circulating of Norris belting out “We’re the Champions” and “Candy Caroline” in a membership, sat on shoulders, arms aloft. An ideal finale to an unforgettable day.
Healthful moments on the drivers’ annual dinner
Should you observe any of the drivers on social media, then we’re virtually sure you received’t have missed this! Earlier than the on-track stress of the season finale kicked in, the grid saved up what’s quick turning into a convention: the annual drivers’ dinner. Practically the total grid turned out for a relaxed night eating collectively as a final likelihood to catch-up earlier than the stress of the ultimate race takes over.
The now-iconic group picture made its annual return too, flooding everybody’s social media feeds as every driver posted the identical shot with their very own spin on the caption. Norris reassured everybody that no meals was thrown, Yuki Tsunoda bemoaned a number of the drivers lacking the white shirt memo, and Alex Albon joked concerning the grid making bets for the title.
The dinner has occurred yearly since 2022 – serving as a healthful reminder that even on the most high-stakes weekend of the 12 months, there’s nonetheless room for a little bit camaraderie within the paddock.
Emotional goodbyes
Abu Dhabi has a approach of mixing finish of season celebrations with nostalgia, and the 2025 finale leaned absolutely into each. Past the title combat wrapping up and the ultimate race drama, groups and followers took some moments to say farewell to a couple acquainted faces and eras coming to an finish.
A brand new chapter for Tsunoda
Sunday’s Grand Prix is the final time we’ll see the #22 on the grid for a short while, as Abu Dhabi marked Tsunoda’s ultimate race earlier than stepping into a reserve role for the team in 2026. Tsunoda even had the assist of a few of his greatest followers who joined him within the storage forward of lights out.
Some of the heartwarming moments from the weekend got here post-race, when Tsunoda carried out a helmet swap along with his greatest buddy on the grid, Pierre Gasly – we’re certain there wasn’t a dry eye in the home!
And to prime it off, actor Jason Statham and mannequin Emily Ratajkowski joined the Japanese driver on Sunday to offer him the send-off he deserves – and we will’t inform who was extra star-struck! Taking up the function of the third driver subsequent season, Tsunoda can be across the paddock subsequent season, and we’re already wanting ahead to seeing him!
The Sauber period involves a detailed
It wasn’t simply drivers saying goodbye in Abu Dhabi – this weekend additionally marked the tip of the Sauber identify in F1. After their debut in 1993, the workforce has taken some totally different identities throughout its three decade-long involvement within the sport, with numerous races, iconic drivers and a legacy that stretches far past its most up-to-date stint because the glowing inexperienced of Kick Sauber.
The workforce marked their ultimate race by welcoming founder Peter Sauber to the storage for one final time with the Sauber identify, as they go on to organize over the winter to step into their new chapter as Audi.
Mercedes bid farewell to Bottas (once more)
And talking of acquainted faces we’ve cherished having round… Valtteri Bottas has been simply as current within the paddock this 12 months – not solely in his essential function as Mercedes’ reserve driver, however as one of many grid’s most dependable comedic sources. Few folks can ship a simulator session by evening and a superbly timed meme by day fairly like Valtteri.
The workforce used the finale to have a good time the eccentric Finn earlier than he heads to Cadillac for 2026, and naturally in true Valtteri model, it was pure social media gold. There was one final Valtteri Explains instalment, a full slate of media work, a superbly timed photobomb through the workforce picture, and naturally, getting thrown into the harbour post-race. Peak Valtteri behaviour that we hope continues proper into his time at Cadillac.
Goodbye, DRS
And at last, there was a surprisingly emotional farewell to… DRS. After over a decade of serving to ship a number of the greatest overtakes in current F1 historical past, Abu Dhabi marked its ultimate outing earlier than the brand-new laws shake issues up subsequent season. Groups embraced the second with playful tributes throughout social media within the type of some surprisingly emotional farewell movies – with Kimi Antonelli having the honour of being the last one to open his rear wing.
FP1 rookie radio chaos
9 rookies jumped into the vehicles for FP1 in Abu Dhabi – and with 9 new voices on the radio, chaos was virtually assured… Names have been combined up, engineers made some fascinating improvisations, and the airwaves rapidly became a number of the most memorable moments of the weekend.
At Ferrari, the workforce have been fairly actually seeing double as Arthur Leclerc joined his older brother Charles Leclerc for the session. Some engineers rapidly realised that two Leclerc’s might get a little bit complicated for his or her drivers, so needed to get inventive. Verstappen’s engineer Gianpiero Lambiase took probably the most logical route, calling Arthur “Leclerc Junior,” which the Dutchman (and us) discovered extremely amusing. In a while, issues escalated additional when Gabriel Bortoleto’s engineer Jose Manuel Lopez casually referred to Charles as “the large Leclerc.” Sure – it was that form of day.
And the sibling dynamic was on full show too. When Charles spun early in FP1, Arthur was straight on the radio – however no – he was not apprehensive. “I believe Charles is performing some burnouts for the followers!” he joked. A traditional youthful brother remark.
Issues solely obtained extra complicated for George Russell’s race engineer Marcus Dudley, as he combined up the names of two rookies, however fortunately George was readily available to assist make clear issues! Racing Bulls couldn’t assist however poke enjoyable on the entire state of affairs… All in all, FP1 saved everybody on their toes!
Drivers feeling glam
Quick vehicles, celebrities and excessive drama – it goes with out saying F1 and glamour go hand-in-hand, however Abu Dhabi took issues up a notch with the arrival of Cole Walliser’s notorious Glambot. And with it, the paddock grew to become a Hollywood crimson carpet as drivers eagerly lined as much as strike their most dramatic slow-motion poses… with various levels of success.
There have been energy stances aplenty, numerous crossed arms, and clearly a Bottas moustache particular – the glam bot actually delivered the products.
Hadjar family
In one other extremely heartwarming second over the weekend, Isack Hadjar hosted a really particular visitor in his storage – his dad Yassine Hadjar! The French-Algerian rookie has typically spoken about how instrumental his father has been all through his rise to F1, even honouring the scientist with the physics and quantum-mechanics equations that featured on his helmet.
Yassine seemed proper at house as he climbed into his son’s automobile, unsurprisingly firing off loads of questions to know each element of his son’s world in a second we’re certain neither will ever overlook.
Hadjar wasn’t the one one with household in his automobile, as Nico Hulkenberg probably seemed to encourage his daughter by getting her behind the wheel (within the security of the storage) along with her mom Egle Ruskyte.
A second for the Abu Dhabi appears to be like
The ultimate race of the season is the right excuse for drivers to don particular version helmets, and this 12 months was no totally different.
Hulkenberg reached an enormous milestone in Abu Dhabi, – reaching a staggering 250 races over his 15 years in F1! He celebrated with a gladiator-style helmet, and after battling his method to P9 from 18th on the grid – we expect the design was fairly apt!
Purple was the theme for Williams this weekend as they celebrated their implausible season with particular version helmets for each drivers. Carlos Sainz’s design even paid tribute to his fortunate attraction, “Sparkles”, who helped him to an unimaginable P3 in Baku this season – this is to hoping we’ll see extra of Sparkles subsequent 12 months!
The Ferrari duo additionally went all out on their helmets for the ultimate race. Leclerc’s helmet celebrated his spectacular milestone of 150 races for the Maranello-based workforce, whereas Hamilton marked the tip of his first season with the Scuderia with a mirror-styled lid, completed with gold glitter – one other tremendous eye-catching design from the seven-time World Champion!
French duo Gasly and Esteban Ocon additionally marked the tip of the season with one-off helmets, finishing a sea of spectacular designs.
Celebs crammed the finale
A title decider of this magnitude was at all times going to attract in well-known names from internationally, however this may occasionally have been probably the most star-studded paddock of the 12 months. Actress Ana de Armas frolicked in Williams’ and Ferrari’s garages, earlier than drawing the season to a detailed by waving the ultimate chequered flag of 2025.
Sports activities stars have been enticed by the drama of the weekend, with these in attendance together with tennis gamers Jannik Sinner and Ons Jabeur, boxer Chris Eubank Jr, former footballers Thierry Henry and Micah Richards with their co-host Kate Scott, ex-NBA gamers Julius Erving, and Matt Barnes, streetball participant Grayson ‘The Professor’ Boucher, cricketer Rashid Khan, and Ballon d’Or successful ex-footballer Ronaldinho.
In what proved to be a really musical weekend, rappers Central Cee and Skepta, singers Camila Cabello, Benson Boone, Katy Perry, Sam Ryder, will.i.am, the band Metallica, and DJs Peggy Gou, Adam Port, DJ Snake and Carl Cox have been both performing or just having fun with the race weekend within the desert.
Lastly, there have been loads of personalities out of your screens at Yas Marina, together with actors Idris and Sabrina Elba, Jessica Chastain, Madelaine Petsch, Jung Hae-in, Terry Crews, Liu Yifei, Marsai Martin, Winston Duke, Tune Kang-Ho, TV host Molly Qerim, Bollywood actors Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, and Yasmin Abdulaziz, fashions Yasmine Sabri, influencer Youmna Khoury and TikToker Khaby Lame. What number of did you notice?
