A relaxed Max Verstappen feels he has "nothing to lose" at this weekend's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as he looks to overturn a 12-point deficit to Lando Norris. 

Verstappen is in contention to become just the second driver, after Michael Schumacher, to win five Formula One titles in a row after a stunning second half to 2025. 

The Dutchman appeared down and out after the Dutch Grand Prix in August, when he sat 104 points behind then-championship leader Oscar Piastri, who is now third. 

But he has catapulted himself back into contention since then, winning five of the last eight Grands Prix and never failing to make the podium, including last week in Qatar. 

Indeed, it is the first time since 2010 that more than two drivers are in with a shot at the title heading into the final race, while it is the 13th time it has happened overall. 

Former Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel won that title 15 years ago and is the only driver to win the title, having not led the championship prior to the season finale. 

That is another accolade Verstappen can emulate on Sunday, though the Dutchman revealed that he had not planned to be in the running with both Norris and Piastri. 

"My dad is rallying in Africa. And my mum. I guess it was not planned," he said. 

"I also didn't really plan to be in the title fight till the end.

"I think after Zandvoort, everything was a bit cancelled, I would say. My mum is at home, happy with the dogs. You can see a lot on TV anyway!"

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Verstappen arrives at the Yas Marina Circuit with confidence, and at a track where he claimed his first F1 title in controversial fashion against Lewis Hamilton in 2021. 

He has taken pole position and victory in four of the last five editions of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, though it was last year that he lost out to the McLaren of Norris. 

Verstappen could join the likes of John Surtees (1964), Emerson Fittipaldi (1974), Nelson Piquet (1981 and 1983) and Alain Prost (1986) to win the championship while going into the final race in second in the Drivers' Championship. 

"I'm very relaxed, nothing to lose," Verstappen reflected. "I'm just enjoying being here, but for me, it's not even about being here. 

"I've been enjoying the second half of the season, working with the team and how we’ve been able to turn things around from difficult times.

"[We've gone from] having a debrief after the race, feeling very disappointed and frustrated with the performances, to just enjoying, smiling, having these wins again.

"It's fantastic, so I'll just take it. To me, everything here is just a bonus and sitting here fighting for the title. That's also what makes it really straightforward for me.

"We will just try to have a good weekend, but even then it's not really in my control, so I guess I'll just try to enjoy it."