The Australian Oscar Piastri concluded the 2025 Fórmula 1 season in third place in the drivers’ championship, following a podium in the Grande Prêmio of Abu Dhabi. The race, held at Circuito Yas Marina, took place on Sunday, December 7, with a start at 5pm local time at Emirados Árabes Unidos. Piastri finished second in the race, behind Max Verstappen and ahead of teammate Lando Norris, who secured the world title.
The fight for the championship reached the final stage with three drivers in contention, separated by just a few points, which increased the tension on the track.
Piastri led for much of the year, but strategic decisions and adverse results in the final races prevented him from fighting for first place.
- Main moments of the season for Piastri: seven victories in Grandes Prêmios, six poles and leadership in the first rounds.
- Performance in Abu Dhabi: start in third, initial overtaking and tire management for second place.
- Impact on the team: McLaren won the constructors’ title with a 1-3 finish in the race.
Strategies define the outcome in Yas Marina
The start of the race at Abu Dhabi saw Piastri gain immediate position, overtaking Norris at the opening corner to take second place behind McLaren opted for an aggressive strategy, keeping the Australian on the track during the first safety car period, which allowed a clean start and preservation of soft tires.
Verstappen, from Red Bull, controlled the pace at the front from the start, completing the 58 laps with a 12-second advantage over Piastri.
The Australian team’s focus was on maximizing points for the constructors while avoiding unnecessary risks following Verstappen’s pole position on Saturday.
Season marked by balance between rivals
Piastri took the championship lead after the fifth round, at Jeddah, with a dominant victory that put him 10 points ahead of Norris. Verstappen, three consecutive champions until 2024, recovered ground in the intermediate stages, especially on high-speed circuits like Zandvoort and Austin.
The Australian accumulated 410 points at the end of the year, with highlights on technical tracks where his consistency shone, such as Mônaco and Singapura.
Norris, in turn, won seven races and scored 423 points, surpassing Piastri in the last five stages.
Verstappen finished with 421 points and eight victories, including Abu Dhabi, but was two points behind the Briton.
The internal rivalry at McLaren generated debates about prioritization, but the team maintained balance to gain the maximum number of points.
Challenges overcome by the Australian throughout the year
Minor injuries and mechanical problems affected Piastri in two races, such as abandonment in Las Vegas due to hydraulic system failure.
He responded with consecutive pole positions in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, demonstrating quick adaptation to the MCL39 car’s upgrades.
Physical preparation included intensive training on simulators, focusing on endurance for the 2025 long races.
In the GP of Brasil, a collision with Leclerc cost positions, but Piastri recovered to fifth place and extra points in the sprint.
These incidents added up to 25 lost points, but the Australian maintained his regularity with just three finishes outside the top 5.
Post-race statements reveal maturity
After finishing Abu Dhabi, Piastri stopped for interviews in the paddock, at 7pm local time, and praised his teammate Norris as deserving of the title.
“He drove impeccably in the final stages,” said the Australian, highlighting McLaren’s strategy that benefited the team as a whole.
Verstappen, winner of the race, mentioned the pressure of the championship and the strength of the rival car in the final straights.
Piastri expressed satisfaction with the podium, his ninth of the year, and the contribution to McLaren’s constructors’ title, their first since 1998.
Perspectives for the future in the category
Piastri, at 24, plans pre-season testing in Barcelona, from January 26 to 30, 2026, to adapt to the new aerodynamic rules.
McLaren has announced chassis updates for the next era, aiming to remain competitive against the Red Bull and Ferrari.
The Australian aims for consistency in 2026, focusing on reducing pit stop errors that cost 15 points in the current season.
Experts predict he will challenge for the title again, given his progression from runner-up in 2024 to third in 2025.
Race data at Abu Dhabi
The total race time was 1 hour, 26 minutes and 7 seconds, with Verstappen recording the fastest lap in 42nd, at 1 minute and 25 seconds.
Piastri consumed 28 liters less fuel than expected, thanks to the efficiency of the updated Mercedes engine.
Norris faced a five-second penalty for the Tsunoda incident, but retained third place.
- Race Score: Verstappen (25), Piastri (18), Norris (15), Leclerc (12), Russell (10).
- Laps led: Verstappen (45), Piastri (8), Norris (5).
- Incidents: A safety car on lap 17 due to debris at turn 9.
Comparison of performances in the championship
Norris led the pole statistics with seven, compared to six for Piastri and seven for Verstappen.
The Australian had the best rate of top-3 finishes, with 72% of runs.
Verstappen stood out in fast laps, with 12 records throughout the year.
McLaren scored 833 points in the constructors’ championship, surpassing Red Bull by 45.
Piastri contributed 49% of the team’s points, proving his worth in indoor doubles.
Evolution of the McLaren car in 2025
Updates introduced to Imola improved aerodynamics by 15%, benefiting Piastri in low-speed cornering.
The team invested in simulation software that predicted 80% of the correct strategies.
Initial brake problems were resolved after Silverstone, reducing wear by 20%.
Piastri tested prototypes in Fiorano, providing data for future generations.
The collaboration with Mercedes resulted in power gains of 30 horsepower.
