Max Verstappen had a chance to do something historic in Abu Dhabi. He won the race by a distance, so he could scarcely have got closer.

Max Verstappen will start the Abu Dhabi GP from the pole after securing the top spot in the qualifying at the Yas Marina Circuit on Saturday. Verstappen still has a chance to win his fifth consecutive F1 title.

McLaren played the conservative game with their leading driver as Lando Norris finished on the podium in the Abu Dhabi season finale and controls his own championship destiny.

Max Verstappen says he has "no regrets" about a season he believes was the best driving of his Formula 1 career, despite losing the 2025 world championship to Lando Norris by just two points.

Norris ends Verstappen’s reign as world champion. The Red Bull star won the last four World Championships. Lewis Hamilton was the last driver not named Verstappen to pick up an F1 title, but he had a stranglehold on the sport from 2014 to 2020 with the only year he didn’t win was in 2016 (Nico Rosberg).

Lando Norris finishes third in the Decider in the Desert to beat Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri to the F1 Drivers Championship; Norris is first McLaren world champion in 17 years and the 11th British driver to claim the crown;

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be F1's first title decider in years. Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri can all win the ultimate trophy in the 2025 finale.