The 2025 Formula 1 season is nearing its finale, yet the World Drivers’ Championship remains tightly contested.
This marks the first time since 2021 that there hasn’t been a champion crowned before the last race. It’s also the seventh instance in F1 history where three drivers are still in the running.
At last week’s Qatar Grand Prix, McLaren’s strategy came under fire. They opted to keep Lando Norris, the current leader, and Oscar Piastri, who sits third, out during a safety car period. This allowed Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing to seize the lead once both McLarens eventually pitted, leading to a victory that put Verstappen firmly in the title race.
For Norris to secure the championship, he has a few routes, but the most straightforward is to finish ahead of both Verstappen and Piastri. Currently, he holds a 12-point advantage over Verstappen and 16 over Piastri.
All you need to know about the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix:
- Date and time: December 7th, 8 a.m. Eastern Time
- Venue: Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
- Channel: ESPN
- Streaming: DIRECTV (free trial available)
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix features a 3.281-mile circuit, consisting of 16 turns, and spans 58 laps for a total of 190.253 miles.
For those looking to catch the race live:
Start times for the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix:
The race starts today, December 7th, at 8 a.m. Eastern Time.
Watching the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for free:
If you don’t have cable, consider using a live TV streaming service to catch the Abu Dhabi GP without any charges. DIRECTV offers a free trial that includes ESPN. After the trial, subscription costs start at $49.99 per month for access to over 90 channels.
Not ready to commit? You can also try Sling TV’s orange plan for just $1. It grants 24-hour access that includes ESPN, along with weekend and week-long passes available.
Starting grid for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix:
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- Gabriel Bortleto (Kick Sauber)
- Esteban Ocon (Haas)
- Isaac Hajar (Racing Bulls)
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull Racing)
- Oliver Bearman (Haas)
- Carlos Sainz Jr. (Williams)
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Alex Albon (Williams)
- Nico Hulkenberg (Kick Sauber)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
- Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
