8 Moments You Might Have Missed at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
The 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix had all the big headlines. Lando Norris claimed his first world title, and Max Verstappen added another race win to his total. But not everything made the front page. Away from the championship, the weekend was packed with personal milestones and unexpected guests.
These moments brought something extra to the season finale. If you only caught the main broadcast, here’s what you may not have seen, but probably should have.
Norris Celebrates Title Win With Late-Night Singalong
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After clinching the world championship by finishing third, Lando Norris joined McLaren’s garage celebration before heading out. Footage later surfaced of him in a club, lifted on shoulders, singing “We Are the Champions” and “Sweet Caroline.” His parents, Cisca and Adam, had met him at parc fermé moments earlier.
Tsunoda Concludes Final Race Before 2026 Reserve Role
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Yuki Tsunoda’s final race as a full-time driver didn’t go unnoticed, especially with actor Jason Statham and model Emily Ratajkowski appearing in his garage. He later exchanged helmets with Pierre Gasly, and wrapped up his current chapter with a heartfelt moment that was a celebration of how far he’d come.
FP1 Session Features Rookie Radio Errors and Name Mix-Ups
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With Arthur Leclerc joining big brother Charles at Ferrari for Free Practice 1, the engineers quickly hit a wall. Over the radio, “Leclerc Junior” and “the big Leclerc” became the new shorthand. Other teams fumbled similar rookie name mix-ups, with George Russell even having to correct his own team mid-session.
Abu Dhabi Marks Final Race With DRS Before 2026 Regulations
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Abu Dhabi was the last venue to feature the Drag Reduction System under current technical regulations. Kimi Antonelli had the distinction of being the final driver to use DRS in a race. Teams acknowledged the end of the era through social media posts marking the system’s final competitive appearance.
Drivers Participate in Glambot Shoot During Race Weekend
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Cole Walliser’s Glambot camera, typically used on red carpets, made an appearance in the Yas Marina paddock. Drivers took turns recording slow-motion walks and poses, with Valtteri Bottas leaning into it, moustache and all. Fans quickly turned the footage into edits and GIFs that spread faster than qualifying rumors.
Isack Hadjar Shares Garage Moment With His Father
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Rookie Isack Hadjar brought his father, Yassine, into the garage during the weekend. A physicist, Yassine, climbed into the car and asked technical questions about the setup. Hadjar’s helmet featured quantum mechanics equations as a tribute to his father’s influence throughout his journey to Formula 1.
Drivers Mark Milestones With One-Off Helmet Designs
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Drivers brought out one-off helmets with very different vibes. Nico Hulkenberg marked 250 starts with a gladiator theme. Carlos Sainz honored his stuffed mascot “Sparkles.” Charles Leclerc went bold for race number 150, and Lewis Hamilton ended his first Ferrari season in a gold-trimmed design that drew plenty of attention.
Ana De Armas Waves Final Chequered Flag of the Season
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Actress Ana de Armas waved the last chequered flag of the season. She was one of many celebrities around Yas Marina, with appearances from Ronaldinho, Katy Perry, Jessica Chastain, and Central Cee scattered across the paddock. Appearances spanned multiple garages and VIP events during the race weekend.
Mercedes Bids Farewell to Bottas Ahead of Cadillac Move
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Valtteri Bottas wrapped up his final outing with Mercedes before switching to Cadillac next season. The team gave him a farewell video, one last episode of “Valtteri Explains,” and a traditional dunk in the Yas Marina harbor. He photobombed the group photo first, just to keep things in character.
Sauber Name Retires After Final Race Before Audi Transition
Credit: Wikipedia
The 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was Sauber’s final outing under its longstanding name. The team, which entered Formula 1 in 1993, will be rebranded as Audi in 2026. Founder Peter Sauber was present in the garage for the last race of the current era, and closed out a 30-year legacy.