Lewis Hamilton spins out of control and crashes in Abu Dhabi to close off a challenging 2025 year
Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton found himself spinning off the track in a bizarre scene during the final practice of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Ahead of qualifying, Hamilton lost the rear coming out of turn nine and spun full circle before sliding into the barriers, bringing out the red flag.
He stepped out of the car unassisted and picked up some of the debris himself.
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After the stoppage in the busy final practice, it was Mercedes driver George Russell who topped the timing boards ahead of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, with Oscar Piastri in fifth.
The damaged car of Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari. NurPhoto via Getty Images
Norris led the other two practice sessions of the weekend but had a scare during the third after he narrowly avoided running into the back of Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull, swerving around him just in time.
In the final stages of the session, Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli lurched into the side of Tsunoda in the pit lane as the Red Bull driver was beside him.
For Hamilton, his 2025 season has been nothing to write home about, declaring it a "terrible" season in terms of performance for Ferrari.
Oscar Piastri finished in fifth for the final practice of 2025. Getty
The 40-year-old Briton won a sprint race in China in March, but nothing else this season, not even standing on the podium in a main race this year.
For the three title contenders, taking the pole is crucial for their charge in Abu Dhabi.
Since 2015, every driver that has started on pole has won the race, as the circuit struggled to encourage overtaking.
For Norris in the lead, he will win the title if he’s is on any step of the the podium in Abu Dhabi.
Even if Verstappen wins the grand prix, he'll need Norris to finish fourth or lower to take his fifth straight F1 title.
For Piastri, the maths is a little more convoluted. The Australian will need to win in Abu Dhabi and requires his teammate to finish outside the top five to take his first F1 drivers' championship.
As all three drivers have won seven races in the 2025 season, only 16 point separates first and third, meaning Abu Dhabi will be a feisty showdown.
