Overview
- The title will be decided at Yas Marina with Norris on 408 points, Verstappen 396 and Piastri 392, with published finish permutations defining each driver’s route to the crown.
- Lando Norris set the pace in both Friday sessions as Max Verstappen stayed within tenths, and a near‑contact led Norris to warn “we risk a collision” on radio without prompting an investigation.
- Reports say McLaren has a contingency to use team orders if needed to secure the championship, a departure from its season-long policy of letting its drivers race freely.
- Verstappen’s second-half resurgence turned an early deficit of roughly 104 points into just 12 entering Abu Dhabi, keeping Red Bull firmly in contention.
- Mercedes submitted evidence to the FIA after Kimi Antonelli received online abuse and death threats post‑Qatar, with Red Bull issuing apologies and both Norris and Verstappen sending support.