Lando Norris says he is “expecting everything” in Sunday’s title-deciding race in Abu Dhabi, which starts between title contenders Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, as he bids to win his first F1 world championship.
Norris qualified second behind Verstappen at the Yas Marina circuit on Saturday, with Piastri third. This means McLaren’s championship-leading drivers will start the showdown in title-winning position, given that a podium finish is enough to become champion.
It won’t be enough for either challenger to win the race, with Verstappen trailing Norris by 12 points, or Piastri by 16, but it won’t be enough if the Briton finishes at least third if his Red Bull rival wins, or fifth if his teammate wins.
But Verstappen expressed hope that the 58-lap season finale would prove “not easy”.
Asked if he expected that to happen, Norris said: “I don’t know.
“We’re expecting everything so we’ll see.”
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Highlights of the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying.
Given that he is currently starting from pole position, if Verstappen were to lead the race, the possibility of using a ‘back-up’ tactic (of the type employed by Lewis Hamilton in the 2016 Abu Dhabi race against Nico Rosberg) to effectively upset Norris from the title position is one strategy the Dutchman could theoretically employ to facilitate a title reversal.
Asked about the possibility of Verstappen playing tactically, Norris told Sky Sports F1: “There’s no point in thinking too much about it.”
“I’m going to sit down with my guys and think about how we can best prepare for tomorrow and be ready for anything.
“Our goal is to win the race. That’s our mindset. This will not be a simple one, it will probably be the most complex race I will ever experience!”
“I don’t have to take any risks, so I hope I can take advantage of it.”
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Max Verstappen has answered whether he will back up the pack like Lewis Hamilton tried against Nico Rosberg during the 2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
What did Hamilton do in 2016 and could Verstappen try the same?
Hamilton went into the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi in 2016 knowing that in order to become world champion, he needed to knock his Mercedes teammate Rosberg off the podium and win the race. It’s the same scenario it would take for Verstappen to beat Norris on Sunday.
Hamilton took pole from Rosberg and led the race from the title-leading German.
However, once Mercedes’ pit stops were complete, Hamilton slowed his pace in the final stint section of the Yas Marina lap, allowing the drivers behind the Silver Arrows to catch up, but was unable to close enough to Rosberg on other overtaking-friendly sections of the track.
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Watch Lewis Hamilton back up Nico Rosberg in the 2016 Abu Dhabi decider – will history repeat itself?
In the end, it was a nervy finish with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull’s Verstappen catching them, but Rosberg crossed the line in second place behind Hamilton and was crowned champion.
The top four cars finished the race with just 1.7 seconds separating them.
Verstappen did not rule out the possibility of trying again after qualifying, but he did not rule out the possibility.
“The layout was different too,” Verstappen said of the circuit, which had changes made to make overtaking easier ahead of the 2021 competition.
“I feel like I get towed a lot more during laps now, so it’s probably not as easy to do something like that, and of course the car is completely different than it was back then.
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After qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Max Verstappen sent a message to title rival Lando Norris.
“At the time, I felt it was much easier to back up because the tires would overheat quite a bit if you got close to the car.
“I remember even in the qualifying lap in 2016, I couldn’t go full speed in sector one to keep the tires alive in the last sector. In fact, it was here for example. So, yeah, it’s completely different now, a completely different time.
“I hope the race isn’t easy, but I hope it’s not my fault.”
“This is his best shot” – Sky Sports expert on Verstappen’s approach to racing
Nico Rosberg of Sky Sports F1:
“The problem is that the track has changed so much since then that it was much easier to push people back. It was difficult to overtake at the time, but that was his best shot.”
“He’ll have to.”
Bernie Collins of Sky Sports F1:
“Max Verstappen is very good at strategizing what other players will do as well.
“If he’s in P1, the best thing to do is drive as slowly as possible because that will hurt the tires behind you.
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Craig Slater explains what Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris need to do to win the title in Abu Dhabi.
“Whatever he can do to hurt their tires by taking care of his own tires, that’s always a good chance.
“And if he can damage his pit window, there are options available to them under normal pit stop situations and safety car situations, and that can be done by keeping the pack tight and having tires available whenever he wants to open his pit window.”
“We saw it last year in Baku, where a McLaren drove slowly through the castle section, which is equivalent to the hotel section here in Abu Dhabi, where you can’t overtake, and then pushed on the straight.
“So you have the pace to protect someone, but you’re trying to slow down the overall lap time.”
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Oscar Piastri says he has not had “direct discussions” about helping teammate Lando Norris if necessary at Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“I can’t imagine Max driving off into the sunset.”
Mercedes’ George Russell will start fourth, just behind the three title contenders, but Verstappen will certainly try to close in on the leaders if he succeeds in converting pole position into a race lead.
Asked about his chances of finishing in the top three, Russell told Sky Sports F1: “In normal circumstances we don’t have the pace.
“But obviously, if the first lap ended in the same order as we started, I can’t imagine Max riding off into the sunset.
“Maybe there’s a chance.”
Meanwhile, Verstappen told a press conference about his approach to Sunday, adding: “I gave it my all. I have nothing to lose.”
“So, for me, of course, I’m going to try to win the race. I’m going to defend. If I have to attack, I’m going to attack, because anything can happen. It could be second or third or it could be winning. That would be great.”
Sky Sports F1 Abu Dhabi GP Schedule
Sunday, December 7th
9:10am: F2 Feature Race
11am: Grand Prix Sunday: Abu Dhabi GP Build-up*
1pm: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix*
3pm: Checkered flag: Abu Dhabi GP reaction*
4:30pm: Ted’s Notes
*Also held at Sky Sports Main Event
The 2025 F1 season will begin this weekend with the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix being broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with Sunday’s race ending at 1pm (meeting time starts at 11am). Stream Sky Sports now – cancel anytime with no contract
