JUST IN: F1 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix WEATHER Fo…read more

After 23 grueling rounds in the 2025 season of Formula 1, the final showdown arrives at 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — and everything depends on this last race weekend. For the first time since the dramatic 2021 finale, the world championship remains undecided until the very final lap at Yas Marina Circuit. As the paddock heads into the United Arab Emirates, all eyes will be on the title-contenders: Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri — and on the weather forecast, which could shape the outcome dramatically. 

Championship Context: A Three-Way Decider

Heading into Abu Dhabi, Lando Norris leads the standings, holding a 12-point advantage over Max Verstappen and a 16-point cushion over Oscar Piastri. Even with that lead, nothing guarantees him the title — and finishing in the top three on Sunday would secure his first world championship, irrespective of what his rivals do. 

Verstappen, fresh off a victory in the previous race at Qatar, remains very much in the hunt. His win — combined with Norris finishing fourth — ensures he stays in contention for a record-equalling fifth straight championship. Meanwhile, Piastri, though slightly more behind, retains realistic hopes. In short: a three-way duel. 

So while speed, tyre strategy, and execution will all matter, another critical — though often underestimated — factor is weather. At Yas Marina, where sessions run from afternoon practice into qualifying and race under floodlights, the interplay between day and night conditions could influence tyre behavior, track grip, and ultimately, who lifts the trophy. 

Weather Forecast: What to Expect

The projected weather for the Abu Dhabi weekend suggests a beautifully calm, dry, and typical desert-style pattern — a forecast that should help teams plan with some certainty. Importantly, no rain is expected throughout the weekend. 

Here’s the breakdown of how the weather should play out across the sessions:

Friday (Practice 1 & Practice 2): FP1 (around 1:30 PM local) — Sunny, daytime highs near 27 °C, but under the midday sun it may feel closer to 31 °C. Humidity is moderate at about 47%. Winds are light, and there’s zero chance of rain.  FP2 (from 5:00 PM) — As dusk sets in toward floodlights, temperatures will ease to around 26 °C. The air remains calm, rain-free, giving teams ideal conditions to gather long-run data more representative of qualifying and race conditions.  Saturday (Final Practice & Qualifying): FP3 (mid-afternoon) — Expect warmer track conditions, with air around 28 °C and a “real feel” nearing 31 °C. Humidity modestly drops to ~44%, and rainfall is once again ruled out. However, highs like this may make the track slicker and less forgiving, meaning FP3 might be tricky for fine-tuning setups.  Qualifying (6:00 PM, under night skies) — Much cooler: around 25 °C, with humidity rising to about 55%. Light winds (roughly 6 mph) are expected. With no rain, Q-session is likely to become a pure test of driver skill, car setup and nerve rather than weather luck.  Sunday (Race Day): As the cars roll out around 5:00 PM local time, expect daytime temperatures near 27 °C, dropping to about 25 °C as evening approaches. Humidity could climb to ~60% — the highest of the weekend — while light breezes (around 10 mph) may influence braking points or cornering slightly. Again: no rain forecast at all. 

In short: a smooth, dry weekend with predictable conditions. That means — unless something unexpected happens — weather likely won’t play the villain like it sometimes does at other venues. Instead, the title fight will be decided by drivers, cars, and strategy. 

Implications: What This Means for Teams, Drivers & Strategy

Because rain is virtually off the table and conditions remain stable, teams will focus on optimizing setups for typical day-to-night evolution. Here’s how this forecast shapes the tactical landscape:

Tyre strategy & car balance: Warm afternoons mean good track grip for data collection, but as temperatures fall in qualifying and the race, grip might increase — a benefit when pushing for qualifying or trying to extend a stint. Teams will likely set up cars for cooler, more stable evening conditions rather than unpredictable rain or dramatic temperature swings. Predictability favors clean racing: With consistent conditions, there’s less chance of rain-induced chaos or surprise safety cars. What that means: racecraft, pit-stop execution, tyre management, and pure pace will likely decide the outcome. Edge to consistency over risk: For a three-way championship fight, consistency and error-free performance will be as important as outright speed. A mistake under pressure might be way more costly than any gamble on weather. Driver comfort matters: With rising humidity in the evening, physical endurance and concentration will come into play — especially as the title contenders try to stay sharp until the chequered flag.

Final Thoughts: A Championship Built on Skill, Not Weather

In a sense, the forecast calls for a “maker’s race.” No rain. No tricky weather swings. Just dry air, predictable temperatures, and the familiar night-time glow of Yas Marina under floodlights. That’s good news for fans and teams: what unfolds should be a pure battle of talent, nerves, machinery — and strategy.

For the three leading contenders — Norris, Verstappen, and Piastri — this means the outcome depends largely on how well they manage tyres, pace, tyre wear, and pressure. The fact that weather is unlikely to interfere means that whoever gets their day right will likely walk away champion.

So as the motorsport world turns its eyes to Abu Dhabi, one thing is clear: whatever happens over those final laps and corners, this Grand Prix will be decided on raw performance — not by raindrops or climate surprises.