Three drivers, one championship: Abu Dhabi finale to crown 2025 F1 champion

Former Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button believes this year’s drivers’ championship comes down to one decisive factor: how Lando Norris handles the pressure of the final race weekend in Abu Dhabi. With a three-way title showdown set for Sunday, Button says the McLaren driver’s composure, not outright speed will determine whether he claims his maiden crown.

The season finale features McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, along with four-time world champion Max Verstappen, all still mathematically in the hunt. Norris heads into the race with a 12-point lead over Verstappen and 16 over Piastri. A podium finish will seal the championship for the 25-year-old Briton.

Button, however, stressed that the points gap means little if Norris cannot stay calm under pressure. “Even if Max wins the race, the title isn’t in Max’s hands,” Button said during an interaction hosted by FanCode, the official F1 broadcaster. “It’s all about how Lando deals with the pressure. That’s what will decide whether Max or Lando becomes champion.”

According to Button, Verstappen holds a major psychological edge thanks to his experience in handling high-stakes moments. The Red Bull star, already a four-time champion, is approaching the finale with nothing to lose.

“Max is relaxed. If he wins, great. If he doesn’t, he goes home, takes a winter break and comes back to fight again,” Button said. “He just loves racing and competition. There’s no pressure weighing him down.”

That is not the case for Norris and Piastri, both chasing their first world titles and racing in the most intense situation of their careers. Button warned that a maiden title fight can easily tighten a driver up. “For the other two, this is huge. It’s their dream. You can start overthinking, and even with the fastest car, qualifying can slip away because you’re not relaxed,” he explained.

Button praised Norris’ remarkable turnaround in the second half of the season. The Briton erased a 34-point deficit to teammate Piastri in August, finding both consistency and confidence after a shaky start.“At the beginning of the year, Lando looked mentally off making mistakes and not performing at his level. But a long season helps you work through those issues, and lately he’s been incredibly consistent,” Button said.

Yet the former champion also noted that Norris still struggles in wheel-to-wheel battles with Verstappen. Their clash in Las Vegas, where Norris backed out in a close fight, showed the difference in race craft under pressure.

“When you go against Max, it’s another level. He’s a different beast. Lando still can’t take Max on in close combat,” Button said. “But he doesn’t need to. If he qualifies in the top three, gets through Turn 1 cleanly, the race will come to him. It’s definitely Lando’s to lose.”However, Button cautioned that Formula 1 final-race drama is never predictable.

“We’ve seen championships won from much further back at the last race. It’s still open,” he said.

As the F1 paddock heads into Abu Dhabi, the equation remains simple: Norris holds the advantage, Verstappen holds the experience, and Piastri remains the dark horse. But in Button’s view, the title rests squarely on Norris’ shoulders and how he copes with the weight of history staring back at him.Norris leads with 408 points, followed by Verstappen with 396 and Piastri with 392, making the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix the decisive showdown. A strong performance under pressure in this final race will determine who claims the coveted drivers’ title.