Damon Hill
1996 world champion on BBC Radio 5 Live in Abu Dhabi

Max didn't seem as jovial as he normally does; he is going into killer mode. He is turning into the Max Verstappen that we see on the track. I don't want to portray him as a nasty person; he is a very effective racing driver, and he is here to do a job.

So, what does the big boss think about the team orders conundrum at McLaren? Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have both been on the receiving end of tough calls during their time as team-mates, including during this intra-team scrap for the title.

This is what Zak Brown said on Friday: "Obviously, we'll be practical and realistic that if the race develops and it becomes clear that one has a significantly better chance than the other."

Having two drivers in the championship battle is a blessing and a curse. We have no idea how today's race is going to play out - the first corner at lights out could be the main flashpoint - but McLaren will have to prepare for a potential team orders scenario if, for example, Max Verstappen was leading, Lando Norris was fourth and Oscar Piastri was sitting in one of the podium places.

Harry Benjamin looks at the "toughest question in F1" McLaren are facing in Abu Dhabi.

Image source, Getty Images

McLaren's Oscar Piastri, who starts third, said:

“There is still the belief, still the hope, but I need a few things to happen. It wouldn’t be the first time in F1 history that things have happened so, I try and make sure I put myself in the right spot at the right time and go ahead and try to win the race. That’s all I can do.

On whether he understands his role is to race for himself or support Lando Norris:

“Yes, I do know."

Image source, Getty Images

It was the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix way back in April when Oscar Piastri jumped to the top of the drivers' championship with his third win of the season and he looked a decent bet to take the title when he left Zandvoort with a 34-point advantage over team-mate Lando Norris, following his victory and the Briton's retirement.

However, his run up until last weekend in Qatar, when he should've won the race but finished second, was lacking podiums and vital points, allowing team-mate Lando Norris and four-time title winner Max Verstappen to take advantage in the standings.

He was polesitter in Doha last week but today he's starting third on the grid, behind his two title rivals and alongside the Mercedes of George Russell, which, Piastri said, "sets up a pretty exciting day".

Russell: "What time is the sunset? The sun is quite bright."

Engineer: "It will be after 5:30 (1.30pm UK)."

Image source, gett

McLaren's Lando Norris speaking before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: "Surprising good [on how he slept the night before]. I am excited, it is a big moment for all of us. This guy's done it before [Max Verstappen]. This is what we have been waiting for our whole lives.

On the fight with polesitter, Verstappen: "I don't know, there's no point in guessing too many things. Just wait and see."

Pit lane open...

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Getty Images

Championship leader Lando Norris has been taking pictures with fans in the paddock in the build-up to his date with destiny in Abu Dhabi. The McLaren driver regained the lead of this title fight with a dominant win in Mexico in October and now he just needs to stay in the top three at Yas Marina to be number one driver next year.

Norris is starting on the front row today but he had to settle for the P2 grid slot after Max Verstappen's rapid laps in Q3.

"Disappointed not to be on pole for the final weekend but we just weren't fast enough," said Norris. "I still want to win [today] and that's going to be the goal."

Image source, Getty Images

Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who starts in pole position, said: "I'm feeling good, a crazy turnaround for us so now we're just very excited to go racing out there."

On the race: "Hopefully we can just do our own race, but at the same time I will be looking behind to see what is going on out there."

Rosanna Tennant
5 Live F1 reporter in Abu Dhabi

There's a real buzz in the paddock, a real excitement that there is still three drivers hoping to take the title.

It will be a fifth title for Max Verstappen on the bounce, but it's a rarity to see the Dutch driver as an underdog.

In the years gone by we've asked questions about how much Verstappen is going to win by, not is he going to win a race or a championship. It's really exciting to see him in this position.

For Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri it's hugely important for their careers to take their maiden F1 title.

Image source, Getty Images

Max Verstappen thought he was down and out in this title race when he was 104 points behind Oscar Piastri following his home race at the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August.

Fast forward a couple of months and the Dutchman now has a shot at becoming the first driver since seven-time world champion Michael Scumacher to seal five consecutive drivers' titles.

A commanding performance in Q3 on Saturday - and since the summer break - places Verstappen in pole position for today's 58-lap grand prix. He will start alongside Lando Norris on the grid after beating the Briton by 0.201 seconds.

"Incredibly happy to be in first," Verstappen said yesterday. "That's the only thing we can do - try to maximise everything with the car."

If the Red Bull converts his pole into a victory, he needs rival Norris to finish fourth or lower to be certain of another title.

The road to a maiden world title is the clearest for Britain's Lando Norris, as he only needs to finish on the podium today to pop the overall winner's champagne.

For Max Verstappen, outscoring Norris by 13 points will see him champion again, as long as Oscar Piastri doesn't win the race.

As for Piastri, he's the outsider for glory in Abu Dhabi after leading the championship for much of the season. To secure the title, the Australian needs to outscore team-mate Norris by 17 points and Dutchman Verstappen by five points.

Image source, Getty Images

Simple question today, folks: Who is going to win the drivers' title?

We've had quite a few 'heart says this driver but head says another' messages already, so are you feeling the same?

Lando Norris has the edge and if he does it, he'll become the 11th British driver to win the crown.

But Max Verstappen has been likened to a horror movie character who just keeps coming back to life - he decided to go with Chucky, the killer doll that traumatised so many of us, when told about McLaren boss Zak Brown's comments - plus Australian Oscar Piastri has nothing to lose today.

Let us know your thoughts by clicking the yellow 'Get Involved' button or by voting in the poll at the top of the page.

Lorraine McKenna
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

This is it, folks. The climax of the 2025 season and we have three drivers in with a chance of being crowned champion at Yas Marina today. Will it be Lando Norris, Max Verstappen or Oscar Piastri? Choose your fighter.

Lights out at the Abu Dahbi Grand Prix is at 13:00 GMT.

Norris is the man in control as we preapre to go racing for one final time, as the Briton has a 12-point-buffer to four-time world champion Verstappen and a 16-point gap to his McLaren team-mate Piastri.

But it's Verstappen who beat both drivers to the punch and will start on pole position for this title decider in the desert. Norris is second on the grid and Piastri is third.

If the two leading drivers are level on points after the final race then countback comes into play.

In that case, the driver with the most race wins this season - all three are currently level on seven - will be crowned champion. If that remains level then it would go to second place finishes - which Norris leads on and cannot be caught.

Image source, Getty Images