We have an F1 season finale unlike we’ve seen in 15 years, as Max Verstappen attempts to defend his title against not one but two championship contenders, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Teams are hard at work to end the season on a high note. However, Verstappen seems strangely calm in the buildup to the weekend.
Max Verstappen Reveals Routine Before Abu Dhabi Grand Finale
While most drivers might find themselves going hard in the simulator or gym, Verstappen’s Abu Dhabi preparations seem far calmer. He spoke about how he made time for family and did some planning for his other racing endeavors.
Luke Smith tweeted the Dutchman’s comments about his week so far. “Spent some time with my daughter, figured some stuff out for GT3 for next year, figured out some stuff for my sim team planning for next year,” Verstappen said. “Pretty straightforward stuff before arriving here, to be honest.”
Verstappen on his race week preparations: “Spent some time with my daughter, figured some stuff out for GT3 for next year, figured out some stuff for my sim team planning for next year. Pretty straightforward stuff before arriving here to be honest!” #F1 #AbuDhabiGP
— Luke Smith (@LukeSmithF1) December 4, 2025
The Red Bull superstar loves spending time with his girlfriend and daughter, Kelly Piquet and Lily, as seen in many online posts.
Among his extracurricular racing activities, Verstappen owns Verstappen.com Racing, which debuted as a standalone outfit in the 2025 Endurance Cup. The team ran an Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo, featuring Thierry Vermeulen, Harry King, and Chris Lulham, and won the 24 Hours of Spa.
Verstappen’s relaxed approach to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is particularly odd, given that it’s the first time since 2010 that F1 has seen a title decider between more than two drivers.
The 2010 season finale at Yas Marina featured a 4-horse showdown, as Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, and Lewis Hamilton faced off for the title. Alonso entered the race as the championship leader in his Ferrari, with Red Bull stars Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber second and third. McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton was still mathematically in title contention, sitting 24 points behind Alonso.
Vettel took pole in qualifying, and Hamilton completed the front row next to him. Alonso and Jenson Button sat right behind them, with Webber and Felipe Massa on the third row.
The season finale saw a dramatic start, as Michael Schumacher spun his Mercedes on the opening lap and collected Force India’s Vitantonio Liuzzi. Some drivers took advantage of the safety car to pit for new tires; however, a devastating situation for Alonso later in the race would ultimately cost him the championship.
By Lap 18, the Spaniard found himself behind Renault’s Vitaly Petrov, and in a shocking turn of events, Alonso unsuccessfully fought him for the rest of the race. Petrov’s tactical masterclass denied the 2-time World Champion the opportunity to secure enough points to clinch the title over Vettel, who won the race and became the youngest-ever Drivers’ World Champion.
Let’s see what drama Verstappen, Norris, and Piastri can dish up this weekend.
