► The Abu Dhabi GP takes place between 5-7 December
► How to watch the race and where
► The best methods and how much it costs
We all expected the 2025 F1 drivers’ championship to be decided in Qatar, but Max Verstappen’s victory means F1’s 2025 champion will be decided at the season finale in Abu Dhabi. McLaren has locked in its 10th constructors’ title, but we still don’t know which driver will come out on top.
Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri still all have a mathematical shot at claiming the title – making the 2025 the most anticipating season of Formula One since the famous (or awful) 2021 battle between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton; a race that led to a safety car-shaped controversy that handed Max Verstappen his first title.
When is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix takes place on the weekend of 5-7 December 2025. The times (GMT) for each session are as follows:
5 December:
Practice 1: 09:30 – 10:30
Practice 2: 13:00 – 14:00
6 December:
Practice 3: 10:30 – 11:30
Qualifying: 14:00 – 15:00
7 December:
Race: 13:00
How the F1 championship title can be won
It all comes down to which driver scores the most points throughout the season, and with three drivers up for contention, we’ve outlined below what results would mean for which driver.
Lando Norris
| Norris | Verstappen | Piastri |
| 1st | Any position | Any position |
| 2nd | Any position | Any position |
| 3rd | Any position | Any position |
| 4th | 2nd or lower | Any position |
| 5th | 2nd or lower | Any position |
| 6th | 2nd or lower | 2nd or lower |
| 7th | 2nd or lower | 2nd or lower |
| 8th | 3rd or lower | 2nd or lower |
| 9th | 4th or lower | 2nd or lower |
| 10th | 4th or lower | 3rd or lower |
| 11th | 4th or lower | 3rd or lower |
Max Verstappen
| Verstappen | Norris | Piastri |
| 1st | 4th or lower | Any position |
| 2nd | 8th or lower | 3rd or lower |
| 3rd | 9th or lower | 2nd or lower |
Oscar Piastri
| Piastri | Norris | Verstappen |
| 1st | 6th or lower | Any position |
| 2nd | 10th or lower | 4th or lower |
How to watch the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
So, how can you watch it? If you usually wait until the Channel 4 highlights and want to watch it live, that’s what our guide is about to tell you. That way, you don’t have to spend hours blocking away any spoilers on social media and news channels.
1. NOW TV
NOW TV is a streaming service that, like many others, gives you access to a wide selection of channels, shows, and crucially, sporting events.
If you want to watch the race live on the Sunday, temporary access has a one-off payment of £14.99. This gives you access to every Sky Sports channel for up to 24-hours.
If you think that’s a bit dear, the monthly plans represent much better value for money; you can get six and 12 month plans from £28 and £32.99 per month, respectively. Doing that unlocks the whole of the 2026 season and other live sports events besides.
RRP From £28 per month | VIEW OFFER
VPNs to access F1 TV
Due to a deal with Sky, you can’t access F1 TV in the United Kingdom – or can you? Because by using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), you can access F1 TV and enjoy live race coverage from there. We’ve outlined a few recommended options below – each with rather staggering Cyber Monday discounts.
2. NordVPN
Nord VPN has a choice of servers across 168 locations and, like most VPNs, boasts a load of security features such as an anti-malware tool that can help you avoid unwanted ads and phishing scams. It can cover up to 10 devices with a single account and a two year plan starts from £2.29 per month for a basic plan. This increases up to £4.79 for the Ultimate plan.
This is a massive saving that you can have as part of its Cyber Monday sale – which won’t last forever. You can, however, opt for the single month option which begins at £9.69 if you don’t wish to commit to a lengthy subscription period.
RRP From £2.29 per month | VIEW OFFER
3. Surfshark
With intriguing features including a kill switch – which cuts off any internet connection if the VPN signal drops – Surfshark is a popular VPN for many users. Pricing is a little bit cheaper with two year plans begin from a mere £1.49 per month (for the Cyber Monday sale).
The top-spec Surfshark One+ plan even includes data removal by Ingogni, which is great if you’re cautious about your personal data being publicly visible. A single month plan is a little pricier than Nord VPN’s plan, beginning at £11.49 and rising up to £15.
RRP From £1.49 per month | VIEW OFFER
4. CyberGhost
Another VPN option is CyberGhost. It offers VPN servers that suit a number of countries including the USA, Australia, Spain, and Germany. It’s also boasting huge money off as part of its Cyber Monday sale and a two year plan starts at £1.78 per month. The other VPN providers have a 30-day money back gurantee, but CyberGhost stretches out to 45 days.
If, however, you want a single month plan, that comes in at £10.89. One caveat we’ve found is that seven devices are covered with CyberGhost, whereas Nord VPN can cover up to 10.
RRP From £1.78 per month | VIEW OFFER