The 2025 season of Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is set to deliver a dramatic finale as teams and fans converge on Yas Marina Circuit for the final race of the year. After 23 grueling rounds of races — full of strategic battles, high-speed duels, and shifting standings — the championship is now poised for what could be a historic conclusion. This 24th and final round of the season will decide who takes home the 2025 world title.
What gives this year’s finale added weight is the fact that there are three drivers who remain in contention — a rare occurrence in recent years. Heading into the weekend, Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri all have a shot at the championship, depending on how things play out over practice, qualifying, and the race itself.
🏁 Key Start Time & Schedule for the Grand Prix Weekend
The organizers have officially released the full timeline for all the weekend’s sessions — from practice to warm-ups to the grand final on Sunday.
The actual Grand Prix race is scheduled for Sunday, December 7, 2025. The official “lights-out” or start time for the race will be 13:00 GMT, which corresponds to 16:00 local time in Abu Dhabi. The race will span 58 laps of the Yas Marina Circuit course — a 5.281 km track — covering a total distance of 306.183 km.
Here’s a breakdown of the weekend’s key sessions (all times adjusted to local Abu Dhabi time):
Friday, December 5, 2025
Free Practice 1 (FP1): 10:30 – 11:30 Free Practice 2 (FP2): 14:00 – 15:00
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Free Practice 3 (FP3): 11:30 – 12:30 Qualifying Session: 15:00 – 16:00 — This determines the starting grid for Sunday.
Sunday, December 7, 2025 — Race Day
Grand Prix Race: Start at 16:00 (local), lasting roughly 1.5 hours.
Why This Finale Is Especially Important
What makes this Abu Dhabi Grand Prix more than just the end of a season is the combination of high stakes, multiple championship contenders, and the intensity that brings.
Championship on the line: With three drivers — Norris, Verstappen, and Piastri — still able to claim the title, the pressure is enormous. Every practice session, every qualifying lap, every pit-stop strategy could prove decisive. Expect strategic battles: Teams and drivers will be under immense pressure to get their setups right, manage tires, and optimize pit-stop timing. In a tight championship fight, small margins can determine everything. High global interest: Given that this is the season finale and possibly one of the closest title deciders in recent years, fans around the world will be glued to screens — not just for the drama, but also for a possibly historic crowning moment.
What Fans Need to Know
For those planning to follow or watch the race — whether live at the track or via broadcast/stream — here’s what matters:
Because the start time is fixed at 13:00 GMT / 16:00 local time, it’s important to convert that to your own time zone so you don’t miss the action. The weekend includes multiple sessions beyond just the race: free practices on Friday and Saturday, qualifying on Saturday afternoon, and then the race on Sunday. So there’s plenty of on-track action all through the weekend. With many variables in play — starting positions, weather, tyre choices, pit-stop strategy — unpredictability is high. What happens in qualifying could have significant ramifications for the championship.
In Summary
The 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the final race of the season, held at the Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday, December 7, 2025. The race will begin at 13:00 GMT / 16:00 local time — and will span 58 laps, wrapping up what may be one of the closest title battles of recent times. All weekend sessions — practice, final practice, qualifying — are also scheduled and are critical, given how tight the championship fight is between the top contenders. Because the stakes are so high, fans around the world are watching closely, and the atmosphere promises to be electric, whether you’re attending in person or tuning in from home.
