We’ve finally arrived at the season finale — Abu Dhabi under the sunset glow and the Yas Marina floodlights. And to close out the year, I’m joined by my very first guest, my sister Bharati, for a full-circle moment on F101 with Friends.

We break down the magic and madness of this $1.3-billion boomerang-shaped circuit: the tight, bumpy opening sector, the endless DRS spine, the hotel section where tiny mistakes become heartbreak. From championship decides to farewell races, and the unforgettable 2024 final, Abu Dhabi never goes quiet into the gentle night.

It’s a race of sunsets, plot twists, and endings of every kind.

Instagram - @F101withFriends or https://www.instagram.com/f101withfriends/

https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2025/united-arab-emirates

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Dhabi_Grand_Prix

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yas_Marina_Circuit

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/norris-sails-to-victory-ahead-of-sainz-and-leclerc-in-abu-dhabi-as-mclaren.52fogZq77Kgmdt75WN8kGM

We’re heading into the desert heat for the Qatar Grand Prix — where the tyres melt, the sand attacks, and the drivers question all their life choices. I’m joined by Lauren, our Hamilton-loving Miami alum, as we break down the chaos that is Lusail: a MotoGP-born circuit that looks like Pokémon Ditto throwing a peace sign and races like a high-speed endurance test.

We get into Qatar’s no-shadows floodlights, the artificial-grass sand trap, and why FP1 always feels like driving on talcum powder. Then it’s the best moments so far — Alonso’s feel-good 2021 podium, Horner’s “rogue marshal” meltdown, and Oscar Piastri’s iconic Sprint win — followed by a full recap of the 2024 race: Verstappen dominance, Ferrari consistency, and McLaren magic.

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https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2025/qatar

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar_Grand_Prix

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lusail_International_Circuit

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/verstappen-surges-to-victory-ahead-of-leclerc-and-piastri-in-action-packed.4HUw20VKaLxIVNs3h0DJXE

We’re rolling straight into Las Vegas — where the lights are blinding, the paddock is billion-dollar shiny, and the cars hit 300 km/h down the Strip at midnight. The Las Vegas Grand Prix is part street race, part spectacle, part fever dream, and absolutely nothing about it is normal.

Joined by Rahul (from the Shanghai episode), we talk about this 6.2 km Spiderpig-shaped circuit with Monza-level straights, freezing desert temperatures, and tyres sliding around like it’s an ice rink. We break down the chaos of racing at 2 a.m., the Sphere, the Strip, the cold, the late-night fireworks, and why this track—simple on paper—becomes pure mayhem in real life.

We also dive into the short but wild history of Vegas in F1, from the 1980s Caesars Palace parking-lot GP to Liberty Media’s over-the-top 2023 revival, and relive the drama of 2024: Russell’s win, Sainz’s revenge, and Max sealing another title under the neon glow.

Vegas is loud, messy, spectacular, and impossible to ignore.

Instagram - @F101withFriends or https://www.instagram.com/f101withfriends/

https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2025/las-vegas

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas_Grand_Prix

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas_Strip_Circuit

https://f1.fandom.com/wiki/Las_Vegas_Strip_Circuit?file=Las_Vegas_Street_Track_since_2023.png

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/verstappen-crowned-champion-as-russell-heads-mercedes-1-2-in-las-vegas.3TZdhZEthj8sADUPU8p6Ni