Abu Dhabi GP: Live updates from F1 2025 title decider

Nico Rosberg revealed that he had reached out to Lando Norris ahead of today’s world title battle but got no reply.

“[I reached out to Norris] just on Instagram,” Rosberg said on Sky Sports F1.

“I can super relate with him and my situation, but I got ignored, maybe he read it.”

“From Lando’s point of view, considering the inside at turn one in Abu Dhabi, I think he should just be relatively prudent,” Stella said, in his written media session on Saturday night.

“It is not one of those where from the inside you necessarily get the better exit, the car on the outside can be close. So I think there will be some prudency, which is what I would recommend.

“Lando is in a very strong position. I think that’s the approach, also in terms of the options that Max has available to try.”

I’ve done a fair few grids and, unsurprisingly, this by far the busiest I’ve ever been on.

Barely room to move at the front near the championship protagonists.

Verstappen gets wheeled to the grid for the 24th and final time this year for a Grand Prix.

Could this be his greatest day?

One of Formula 1’s reported nice guys Lando Norris is within touching distance of winning his first world drivers’ title and making history.

The Independent’s F1 correspondent, Kieran Jackson, is in Abu Dhabi and reported that Norris looked more nervous than usual during the pre-race commitments.

Norris will have plenty going through his mind but once the green light shines at the Yas Marina Circuit it’ll be go time.

Can Norris handle the nerves and clinch the title?

Oscar Piastri led out the rest of the grid for the reconnaissance laps ahead of the start of this race.

These are a few pre-race laps which help the drivers get a feel for the conditions, wind resistance, on track feel etc before the action begins.

The anticipation is building wonderfully in Abu Dhabi.

“I’m going all out, I have nothing to lose,” Ma Verstappen revealed ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

“I’m going to try and win the race – if I need to attack, I will attack.

“Let’s see what we can do. In the back of my mind, we want to score a lot of points but also we need a bit of luck with what happens behind us.

“But we can talk about strategy for two hours and then after lap one, it can all be thrown in the bin.”

“Tell you who’ll be cooler than Norris… Max Verstappen.

“The Dutchman in conversation with long-term adviser Helmut Marko as he puts on his helmet ahead of the reconnaissance laps.”

Lando joking around with his mechanics in the garage amid a melee just outside, final race vibes.

Contrary to popular belief, it is seldom we see or hear the full-blooded array of emotions we know Max Verstappen possesses deep in his psyche. Max 2.0 is no longer “Mad Max”; this is the new-and-improved version, still laser-focused but ultimately happier-than-ever. Four F1 titles in the cabinet, a fifth is a simple bonus. And it is that mantra which is inching him ever closer to an unprecedented comeback.

Yet on Saturday night under the Yas Marina bulbs, the Dutchman couldn’t resist a recrudesce. “Let’s f****** go, that was insane,” Verstappen beamed over team radio, immediately after setting not one but two laps worthy of a dominant pole position at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.