Abu Dhabi Grand Prix title deciders: 2010, 2014, 2016, 2021 and 2025 revisited
Yas Marina has crowned champions in some of F1's most dramatic finales. Here is what happened in each one.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been part of Formula 1 since 2009 and is usually the last race of the season. That has made Yas Marina the scene of several title deciders, and the 2026 race on 4 to 6 December could be another if Kimi Antonelli does not seal it first.
In 2010 four drivers arrived with a chance: Fernando Alonso led on 246 points, ahead of Mark Webber on 238, Sebastian Vettel on 231 and Lewis Hamilton on 222. Vettel took pole and won, while Alonso was stuck behind Vitaly Petrov's Renault and finished seventh. Vettel became the youngest champion in the sport's history.
The 2014 finale was a Mercedes duel with double points on offer, the only season that used them. Nico Rosberg started from pole, but an ERS failure dropped him to 14th and Hamilton won both the race and the title.
Two years later Rosberg came in 12 points ahead. Hamilton led from pole and backed the pack up to push Rosberg towards the cars behind, but Rosberg's second place was enough to win the title 385 to 380. He retired five days later.
In 2021 Max Verstappen and Hamilton arrived level on 369.5 points. Hamilton was leading until Nicholas Latifi crashed on lap 53, and a disputed safety car restart under race director Michael Masi left Verstappen on fresh soft tyres right behind him. Verstappen passed Hamilton on the final lap to win his first title.
Last year was another decider. Lando Norris finished third behind Verstappen and Oscar Piastri to win his first championship by two points, McLaren's first drivers' title since 2008.
Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix4 to 6 Dec · Yas Marina Circuit See ticketsSource: Formula1.com, F1 Oversteer, Motor Sport Magazine
