STRATEGY GUIDE: What are the tactical options for the title decider in Abu Dhabi?

The stage has been set. The supporting roles in this year’s drama have taken a step back, leaving the three Championship contenders to face off. Max Verstappen takes his eighth pole position of the season and has Lando Norris alongside, with Oscar Piastri behind. There’s a race to win – but bigger issues to consider as well.

Is strategy going to play a part? Almost certainly. We have Verstappen and Piastri with nothing to lose and different ways of approaching this race. Doing whatever the other guy doesn’t is a time-honoured way to make things happen when a Championship comes down to the wire – and we’ve seen it happen here before.

What happened last year (and the year before that)?

The 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was a pretty straightforward race in terms of strategy. The top eight all did a one-stop, and seven of those, including the podium party, all went medium>hard.