Not only did the three main title contenders put on a spectacular show at Yas Marina, but the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, seemingly quiet at first glance, was packed with intense battles!
All eyes in the Formula 1 paddock were rightly focused on Lando Norris securing the drivers’ championship. The McLaren driver faced a challenging race, ultimately finishing in third place behind his former title rivals. Oscar Piastri crossed the line in second, while Max Verstappen claimed victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, narrowly missing out on the championship by just two points, ending the season with 421 points.
Despite the incredible three-way fight, the weekend also marked the conclusion of several other battles within the championship, both for drivers and constructors. It’s important to highlight those who didn’t remain in the spotlight during the closing stages of this remarkable season.
Final drivers’ standings: a new name enters the top 10
With Lando Norris winning the championship, Max Verstappen finishing second, and Oscar Piastri in third, the standings up to ninth place remained unchanged from the post-Qatar GP classification. George Russell finished fourth, while Charles Leclerc, after a fantastic performance at Yas Marina, ended the 2025 season in fifth position. Lewis Hamilton climbed from P16 to P8 during the Abu Dhabi race, securing sixth place in the championship ahead of Kimi Antonelli, who had a quieter weekend but completed an impressive debut F1 season in seventh. The two Williams drivers, Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, took eighth and ninth, while Fernando Alonso made his first appearance in the top 10 with 56 points, thanks to an excellent sixth-place finish in the final race. The outlook for 2026 is shaping up to be incredibly exciting.
The positions from P11 to P17 were exceptionally close: fewer than twenty points separated seven drivers, with three pairs ending the season tied on points. The Abu Dhabi GP proved decisive for many. Nico Hulkenberg shared ninth place with Isack Hadjar on 51 points. Liam Lawson finished alongside the impressive Esteban Ocon, both with 38 points, while Lance Stroll and Yuki Tsunoda concluded with 33 points each. Pierre Gasly and Gabriel Bortoleto finished with 20 and 19 points, respectively. Franco Colapinto and Jack Doohan closed the standings as the only two drivers on the grid without scoring a point.
A finale this tight, particularly with only 13 points separating the top three, hadn’t been seen in many years.
Final constructors’ standings: McLaren dominates, but the midfield is razor-close
Although McLaren had already secured the constructors’ championship in Singapore, the points reveal just how close the midfield battle was. In 2024, the penultimate team earned just 17 points. In 2025, the second-to-last team, Sauber, scored 70 points—enough to place sixth in the 2024 standings. This illustrates how minimal the gaps were this season, with Abu Dhabi providing the final proof.
Thanks to Esteban Ocon’s strong seventh-place finish, Haas consolidated eighth place with 78 points. Aston Martin, on 89 points, missed sixth place by only three points, with Racing Bulls ahead. McLaren, Ferrari, and Williams were mathematically locked in first, fourth, and fifth positions regardless of the Abu Dhabi results. A different story unfolded for the second place in the championship, snatched by Mercedes by a mere 18 points. Despite Max Verstappen’s remarkable victory, George Russell’s fifth-place finish was enough to hold second, as both Yuki Tsunoda and Kimi Antonelli finished outside the points.
The financial differences between positions in the constructors’ standings are substantial, ranging from $10 million to $30 million. Therefore, the midfield battles decided in Abu Dhabi will be crucial heading into the 2026 season.
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