Verstappen Wins 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, McLaren Secures Double Podium

Max Verstappen secured a commanding victory at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, concluding the Formula 1 season with a win under the lights at Yas Marina. The Red Bull driver led home a formidable McLaren pair, with Oscar Piastri taking second and Lando Norris completing the podium in third, as the season wrapped up with a familiar yet competitive order at the front.

Why it matters:

The final race result solidifies the competitive narratives that defined the latter half of the 2025 season. Verstappen's win reaffirms Red Bull's raw pace on race day, while McLaren's double podium underscores their status as the most consistent challenger. The finishing order also had significant implications for the final constructors' standings, with battles throughout the midfield being decided.

The Details:

• Verstappen controlled the race from the front, managing his pace to cross the line over 12 seconds clear of Piastri.
• McLaren's strategic execution was flawless, delivering both cars to the podium and maximizing their points haul to secure second in the constructors' championship.
• Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished a solid fourth, holding off Mercedes' George Russell, who rounded out the top five.
• The midfield saw a standout performance from Haas, with Esteban Ocon finishing an impressive seventh ahead of Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari.
• Several drivers, including both Racing Bulls and Alpine cars, finished a lap down, highlighting the performance spread at the season's end.

By the numbers:

• 1:26:07.469s: Verstappen's total race time for 58 laps.
• +12.594s: The gap from P1 to P2, showing Verstappen's dominance.
• 2: McLaren cars on the podium, a fitting end to their strong season.
• 7th: Esteban Ocon's finishing position for Haas, a strong result for the American team.
• 4: Drivers finished a lap down, illustrating the challenging pace for the backmarkers.

What's next:

With the checkered flag in Abu Dhabi, the 2025 Formula 1 season is officially over. Attention now immediately turns to the winter break and the intense development cycle for the 2026 campaign. Teams will analyze every data point from this final race as they begin work on next year's challengers, all aiming to close the gap to the front when the lights go out again.