Fernando Alonso cautioned that Lando Norris’s championship lead is far from a certain path to the title, as Formula 1 approaches a turbulent 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi. Drawing from his own dramatic experiences, Alonso underscored the unpredictable nature of motorsport and how a single moment can upend even the most comfortable advantage — a message resonating with Norris, McLaren, and title rivals Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri.
Recalling his roles in intense, multi-way title battles, the two-time world champion pointed to the razor-thin margins that determined past championships. Alonso referenced the 2010 showdown, where he lost to Sebastian Vettel by just one point in a final race standoff that also involved Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber. Similarly, in 2007, Kimi Räikkönen clinched the title by a solitary point against Alonso and Hamilton, again in dramatic, high-pressure circumstances that mirrored the current climate facing Norris and his competitors.
Historic Precedents and the Abu Dhabi Parallel
Alonso specifically highlighted how unforeseeable factors can ultimately decide the championship, drawing a direct comparison between the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the recent Qatar Grand Prix. At both events, safety cars arrived at unfortunate moments, dramatically altering the outcome for the favorites. This year, a poorly timed safety car led to a McLaren strategy breakdown, derailing both Norris and Piastri’s pit stops and opening the door for Verstappen to cut his points deficit to just 12, while Piastri slipped to third in the standings — 14 points behind Norris.
Emphasizing the difficulty contenders face in such high-stakes scenarios, Alonso noted that final races rarely play out like typical weekends. To minimize distractions, McLaren have restricted both Norris and Piastri’s media contact, keeping them focused as the pressure intensifies. Meanwhile, Verstappen appears unfazed, adhering closely to his normal pre-race routines. The lone shared press conference for the three leading drivers captured the worldwide anticipation, as journalists and photographers crammed in to witness the mounting tension that will define the Abu Dhabi finale.
Asked whether the looming 2025 championship decider evoked memories of the dramatic past, Alonso responded candidly:
“Yeah, I mean, the last time that it was three drivers, he was back in 2010. So, yeah, I don’t know, the prediction is difficult. Always you think that the leading guy has an advantage because has some margin, in terms of results, and you can take it at this year. But you know, Formula One is unpredictable and you, it was a safety car and back in 2010, that it was, you know, the wrong choice to don’t take it. It was a safety car last week, it was a wrong choice as well, not to take it [pitstop]. But you know, these things can’t happen in a Formula One race, so it’s not guaranteed, even if you are leading the championship.” — Fernando Alonso, World Champion
Psychological Pressure and the Unpredictability of the Finale
Alonso described the mental strain and unique stress emanating from a title-deciding Grand Prix. While drivers attempt to approach the weekend with normalcy, outside pressures — from media and external expectations — inevitably break through, intensifying the scrutiny and emotions for everyone involved. Yet, inside the cockpit, Alonso argued, the fundamentals of competition remain unchanged despite the heightened stakes.
Responding to a question on whether a showdown for the championship ever feels like an ordinary season-closer, Alonso explained:
“No, it is hard. It is hard, because, you know, from yesterday, that you do a couple of events and today, the media is always the same question. And even if you want to switch it off and treat it like a normal weekend, you know, there are always inputs from outside that they remind you that it’s a very special race. So, yeah, it’s more stress for sure, more pressure. But at the end of the day, I think when you close the visor and you leave the garage, your driving style or you’re driving technique and your wish of doing well and win the race doesn’t change much. So it’s not that you drive differently., So yeah i think it’s going to be a normal weekend inside the car a different weekend on the outside.” — Fernando Alonso, World Champion
Debate Over Drivers and the Power of Machinery
Alonso was also asked about the hypothetical scenario: could either he or Verstappen have already secured the title if they had driven the dominant McLaren MCL39 this season? While Verstappen has suggested that the championship would be a foregone conclusion in his hands with McLaren’s car, Alonso refrained from making bold assertions. Instead, he emphasized that Formula 1 is shaped as much by machinery as by talent, recalling that the best car does not guarantee a title and sometimes, sheer unpredictability decides the race.
He addressed the topic with characteristic humor, eliciting laughter in the Aston Martin hospitality as he resisted any definitive answers. When challenged on the notion, Alonso replied:
“You never know. I mean, you never know. It’s always a guess, you know, difficult to answer. You know, I think we all know that Max is an incredible driver and, you know extracting the maximum from the car and some of the races he has won this year, maybe it was not really up to the car, it was up to him and also last year. But yeah, you never know. I mean, my case, we will say that we can win the championship with the best car, you we all have that self confidence. But, it’s a question that you cannot answer.” — Fernando Alonso, World Champion
Pressed if Verstappen failing to win the title would indicate that the “best driver” did not prevail, Alonso’s wry take captured F1’s long history of heartbreak and surprise:
“This has been happening for the last 19 years now. So it will now be 20th.” — Fernando Alonso, World Champion
F1’s Historic Finales and McLaren’s Long-Awaited Chance
Alonso’s insight is sharpened by his own near-misses in Formula 1, having claimed two world titles but losing three others by a hair’s breadth—including the 2007 and 2010 epics, as well as a tense two-car battle with Vettel in Brazil in 2012. The sport’s lore is filled with championship showdowns decided in the closing laps, such as the 2016 duel between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg and the unforgettable 2021 Verstappen-Hamilton decider, which drew record-breaking global viewership.
In the ground-effect era, Red Bull and Verstappen have enjoyed a dominant stretch, but McLaren’s resurgence brought consecutive constructors’ trophies. Nevertheless, the drivers’ title has eluded them since 2008, when Hamilton ensured McLaren’s last championship win. Three-way championship fights have always been rare; with Norris, Verstappen, and Piastri separated by just 14 points, the stage is set for a season finale poised to be etched among the sport’s greatest.
What Awaits at the Abu Dhabi Season Finale
Heading into Abu Dhabi, Norris sits atop the standings, trailed by Verstappen with a 12-point gap and Piastri just two points further back. As history repeatedly shows, holding the advantage this late in the season brings no guarantee of ultimate victory. With strategy gambles, on-track incidents, and psychological pressure all converging under the desert lights, Formula 1 is preparing for another epic conclusion — one where everything, for everyone, is still to play for.
