🇦🇪 Abu Dhabi: Race Preview for the Weekend

Key facts and expectations to close the year at Yas Marina

Published

04 Dic 2025

Est. reading time

3 min

💪 The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix once again closes the 2025 season with a setting that has already become a classic:

Sunset, extreme heat and a technical layout where tyre management defines absolutely everything. For Franco and Alpine, it is an opportunity to end the year with strength and full focus before beginning a new season in which all the cars will be significantly different.

A season finale with its own identity

The final race of the calendar combines natural and artificial light, creating a unique transition that affects temperature, grip and overall balance.

It is a highly technical circuit that rewards consistency. Yas Marina stands out for heavy braking zones, long straights and a slower final sector where traction is key. Overtaking is not straightforward, but the layout favours attacks on the two main straights.

Circuit data:

- Length: 5.281 km - Laps: 58 - Corners: 16 - DRS zones: 2

👉 What could define the weekend

Beyond what each driver must manage in their own race, the entire championship will be decided this weekend, which is why we all want Friday, Saturday and, especially, Sunday in Abu Dhabi to arrive quickly.

What could influence everyone’s strategy?

- Tyre management in extreme heat. Track temperature is usually high and variable at sunset. - Traffic in Quali, especially in Q1. - A tight pit window due to degradation. - The importance of long-run pace. - Wind impact in Sector 3. - Safety Cars, which can be common at season finales.

What to look for from the Alpine this weekend

- A mixed one or two-stop strategy, depending on tyre degradation. - A decisive qualifying session, as overtaking is not always easy in the race. - Energy management will be crucial to maximise performance on the long straights.

🤩 How Franco arrives in Abu Dhabi

After a challenging end to the weekend in Qatar, Franco aims to reset with an Alpine that has shown better signs in simulation and long-run work. It is the final moment of his first cycle with Alpine and a key opportunity to consolidate learning, pace and race execution, even though this will actually be his first time completing the F1 Grand Prix at Yas Marina, if all goes well.

It’s key that he maintains consistent race pace and maximizes his push lap when the tyres are in the right window for time-setting. With focus and clean execution, Franco has the chance to finish the season leaving a strong impression before the break.

Abu Dhabi GP 2025 Schedule

Friday 5 December

FP1: 13:30 🇦🇪 / 09:30 🇬🇧 / 6:30 🇦🇷 FP2: 17:00 🇦🇪 / 13:00 🇬🇧 / 10:00 🇦🇷

Saturday 6 December

FP3: 14:30 🇦🇪 / 10:30 🇬🇧 / 7:30 🇦🇷 QUALI: 18:00 🇦🇪 / 14:00 🇬🇧 / 11:00 🇦🇷

Sunday 7 December

RACE: 17:00 🇦🇪 / 13:00 🇬🇧 / 10:00 🇦🇷

The mission is clear: end the season with a solid, consistent and strategic performance.

Yas Marina demands composure and ambition, and Franco often delivers exactly under those conditions.

And the whole Fran Club 43 will be cheering him on to finish the year in the best possible way!

Show us where you're watching from around the world using #FranClub43.

🩵 Let’s support Franco in the final race of the year!

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