The 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was one of the most dramatic season finales in recent Formula 1 history. With three drivers still in contention for the title, the stakes were high and the pressure intense. Max Verstappen won the race in dominant fashion, Oscar Piastri produced one of the overtakes of the year and Lando Norris sealed his first Formula 1 World Championship title.
Here’s how each team performed – in our opinion – at Yas Marina!
McLaren – 9/10
McLaren delivered when it mattered most. Norris secured the Drivers’ Championship with a controlled and mature performance, achieving third place. He withstood early pressure from Charles Leclerc and remained composed even after losing a position to Piastri on lap one. His emotional reaction after securing the title spoke volumes: “It’s incredible. Pretty surreal… I’ve dreamed of this for a long time.“
Meanwhile, Piastri ended the season with renewed confidence. His stunning overtaking manoeuvre on Norris at Turn 9 was one of the highlights of the year, and he reflected on it with honesty and pride: “I knew that going into today I needed the stars to align to win the championship… I tried my best and put myself in the best position I could.“
Both of McLaren’s strategies were executed flawlessly. However, the team seemed to have forgotten about their Australian driver, making him pit after completing more than 40 of the 58 laps. Ultimately, Piastri fell 13 points short of the title, but he ended his campaign on a strong upward trajectory.
Red Bull Racing – 8.5/10
Max Verstappen produced one of his strongest individual performances of the season. He took pole position, won the race and dominated throughout, but fell just two points short of a fifth consecutive world title. His reflections summed up the mood: “From our side, at least we optimised the weekend perfectly… we won the race in I think dominant fashion.“
On his late-season comeback: “If you look from where we were in Zandvoort, more than 100 behind, then I think it’s not too bad.“
He added heartfelt praise for his team: “I’m just very proud of the people I work with, they are my second family.“
Tsunoda’s final Red Bull race was less joyful. He performed strongly in qualifying, providing Verstappen with a crucial tow, but was unable to hold his position or score points. His vulnerability to undercuts cost the team strategically.
Ferrari – 7/10
Ferrari delivered one of their strongest race-day performances in months. Leclerc pressured Norris early on and finished a respectable fourth, although another season without a win will put pressure on him heading into 2026.
Hamilton endured another Q1 exit but recovered to secure valuable points, helping Ferrari consolidate fourth place in the teams’ standings.
While Ferrari wasn’t podium material, the team executed well and the drivers made the most of the package.
Aston Martin 7.5/10
Fernando Alonso rediscovered his trademark magic at Yas Marina. He achieved his best qualifying result at the track since 2012, demonstrated excellent race pace, and finished a confident sixth. This helped Aston Martin almost secure sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship, ultimately missing out on the Racing Bulls by just three points.
Stroll’s P10 earned a further point, but he lacked Alonso’s edge.
It was a strong finish to a turbulent season, significantly lifted by Alonso’s excellence.
Haas – 6.5/10
Esteban Ocon finished his first season with Haas on a high, securing a spot in Q3 for the first time since Monaco and delivering a steady performance to claim seventh place, even managing to fend off Lewis Hamilton in the final laps. His reflections were a testament to his resilience after a challenging season.
Bearman struggled more, lacking tyre management and consistent pace, but Haas’s long-run pace was genuinely competitive.
These are encouraging signs for 2026, with Ocon delivering one of Haas’s best results of the year.
Visa Cash App Racing Bulls – 6/10
Hadjar’s fifth consecutive appearance in Q3 underlines his impressive rookie credentials. However, both drivers struggled with their race pace, causing them to slide down the order.
Nevertheless, they secured sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship, which is crucial both financially and symbolically.
Despite an excellent qualifying, the team were lacking in race pace. However, this season proved to be a solid foundation for their future on the grid.
Mercedes – 5.5/10
Mercedes’ focus was on securing second place in the Constructors’ standings, and George Russell delivered exactly what the team needed with fifth place. This result secured second place, with a lead of 18 points over Red Bull.
Antonelli had a quieter weekend, struggling with both qualifying and race pace.
The team can be satisfied with their performance, even if they fell short of the top three.
Sauber – 5.5/10
In their final race before becoming Audi, Sauber delivered a respectable performance. Nico Hülkenberg scored P9, consolidating their position with an 11-point margin over Alpine.
Bortoleto continues to adapt to the intensity of F1 racing.
They were not competitive overall, but their operational execution was strong, and a constructor upgrade is on the horizon.
Williams – 5/10
There were no points in Abu Dhabi, but Williams had already secured fifth place in the championship standings in Qatar. Sainz and Albon performed well, but lacked outright speed.
It was a disappointing end to an otherwise positive year, with the focus already shifting to 2026.
Alpine – 4/10
A painful finale to a painful season. Gasly and Colapinto were the last two finishers. They lacked pace and had limited strategy, and the team had stopped development early to focus on 2026.
They finished bottom of the Teams’ Championship, 48 points behind Sauber.
It was a season to forget, with all hopes pinned on next year’s reset.
Written and edited by Jessica.
Feature Image Credit: Formula 1
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