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Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton crashed successful the last signifier of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix up of qualifying aboriginal connected Saturday (December 6, 2025).
The thrilling three-way rubric conflict volition beryllium decided connected Sunday (December 7) astatine the Yas Marina Circuit. McLaren operator Lando Norris is 12 points up of Red Bull’s Verstappen and 16 up of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.
Verstappen is aiming for his 5th consecutive F1 rubric — Norris and Piastri are chasing their first. All 3 drivers person won 7 races.
Mercedes operator George Russell led 3rd signifier up of Norris and Verstappen, with Piastri fifth.
Hamilton mislaid the rear of the Ferrari coming retired of Turn 9 and spun afloat ellipse earlier sliding into the barriers, bringing retired the reddish flag. He stepped retired of the car and picked up immoderate of the debris himself.
Hamilton owns F1 records for astir wins (104) and rod positions (104) but called his ain show “terrible” this season.
The 40-year-old Briton won a sprint contention successful China successful March, but thing other this season. He has not adjacent been connected the podium successful a main contention this campaign.
Norris had a scare during 3rd signifier erstwhile helium narrowly avoided moving into the backmost of Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull, swerving astir him conscionable successful time.
Toward the extremity of practice, Mercedes operator Kimi Antonelli lurched into the broadside of Tsunoda’s Red Bull successful the pit lane arsenic Tsunoda was driving past him.
Norris showed bully gait to pb Friday’s (December 5) archetypal 2 signifier sessions up of Verstappen.
Title showdown
Taking the rod is important successful Abu Dhabi, wherever overtaking is hard connected the 58-lap circuit.
Every operator starting connected rod has won the contention since 2015. The past not to bash truthful was Nico Rosberg a twelvemonth earlier, erstwhile helium was beaten by his then-Mercedes teammate Hamilton.
Norris volition triumph the rubric if he’s connected the podium successful Abu Dhabi. Even if Verstappen wins, the Dutchman needs Norris to beryllium 4th oregon lower. If Piastri wins, helium requires Norris to decorativeness extracurricular the apical five.
McLaren rues errors
Norris had the accidental to wrapper up the rubric astatine past week’s Qatar Grand Prix but a botched strategy telephone by McLaren handed Verstappen the win, boosting his chances of a 5th consecutive rubric to adjacent Michael Schumacher’s feat with Ferrari from 2000-04.
Verstappen’s triumph successful Qatar was his 70th overall. His rubric chances were abruptly improved aft Norris and Piastri were disqualified successful Las Vegas.
Tense rubric contention
After winning the Dutch GP connected Aug. 31 for his seventh victory, Piastri led by Norris by 34 points and was 104 up of Verstappen, who had won conscionable 2 races.
Piastri, who is looking to go the archetypal Australian champion successful 45 years, hasn’t won successful 8 races since his Zandvoort win.
When Norris won the Brazil GP sprint contention successful aboriginal November, helium moved 39 up of Verstappen with 4 races to go.
Verstappen besides qualified successful 16th for the main contention successful Sao Paulo and said helium could “forget about” winning the rubric astatine that point.
