F1 handed out the Promoters Award for 2025 season as Abu Dhabi GP took the big prize among four other winners in different categories.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been crowned the 2025 Promoter of the Year at the annual Formula 1 Promoter Awards, following a spectacular season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit. Saif Rashid Al-Noaimi, CEO of Ethara collected the Promoter of the Year trophy, an award which recognises their work to consistently elevate the Grand Prix and cement its position as a must-visit global sporting destination.
This year, Ethara, the promoter of The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, welcomed new hospitality concepts, innovative on-site activations, sustainability initiatives and entertainment from international music artists including Katy Perry, Post Malone and Benson Boone. The Yas Marina Circuit provided the backdrop to a historic three-way title decider and hosted a record crowd of 339,000 fans across the weekend.
The award ceremony, held in London, assembled leaders from all 24 Grands Prix on the race calendar, with five awards presented, celebrating the outstanding contributions to Formula 1 in areas including sustainability, fan experience, event spectacle, and cultural identity. The five awards and winners were:
- Promoter of the Year: Awarded to the promoter that delivered the best all-round Grand Prix in 2025 and demonstrated a commitment to evolving its event. Winner: The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
- Event Spectacle:Awarded to the promoter that delivered the most impressive pre- and post-race ceremonial spectacle, off-track event spectacle and other activations across a race weekend. Winner: The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix featured performances across the race weekend from international music artists such as Usher, Jennifer Lopez and Major Lazer, with an incredible drone and firework show following Sunday’s Grand Prix.
- Fan Experience presented by Heineken:Awarded to the promoter that provided the best overall fan experience. Winner: The Hungarian Grand Prix upgraded its grandstand and paddock facilities ahead of the 2025 event which provided fans with a significantly elevated experience across the weekend. The race weekend also received positive staff feedback from fans in attendance, highlighting the friendly and helpful nature of the team across the circuit.
- ESG Changemaker presented by Allwyn:Awarded to the promoter that integrated sustainability into the heart of their operations, inspiring others in the industry to innovate and embed ESG principles across event planning and execution. Winner: The Japanese Grand Prix took emphatic steps in its ESG journey by launching its lottery program which provided 4,000 families, children and students with access to the race weekend. The event was also able to secure zero waste to landfill sites and boosted fan travel via low-carbon transport to 64% across the weekend.
- Outstanding Cultural Identity:Awarded to the promoter that best integrates and showcases the unique cultural heritage of its nation by incorporating local customs, traditions and artistic elements to create an immersive experience for the fans, team and global audiences. Winner: The Chinese Grand Prix featured innovative ways of immersing its culture and heritage throughout the race weekend in Shanghai, such as hosting a downtown festival and providing local food and beverage vendors, circuit entertainment and unique branding across the venue.
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: “2025 was another incredible year from start to finish for Formula 1, and at the heart of this success were our 24 promoters, who worked tirelessly to deliver the ultimate race weekend experience for our fans. As the sport enters its next generation in 2026, we have a responsibility to continue breaking barriers and setting a high standard for others to follow. I want to thank all our promoters for their hard work and innovation and encourage them to keep developing their events in 2026 and beyond. Congratulations to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as well as to all the other winners and nominees at today’s awards.”
Louise Young, Chief Race Promotion Officer of Formula 1, said: “The Formula 1 Promoter Awards provide a fantastic opportunity to reflect on the year and recognise the hard work, innovation and collaboration that make each race weekend unique and an amazing spectacle for our fans. Last season was another year of progress and evolution for our promoters, enhancing how we engage our audience on and off the track, and continuing to push the boundaries of live sporting entertainment. Congratulations to Abu Dhabi on being awarded Promoter of the Year, and to all the other winners and nominees. I am excited to work with you all this year and beyond as we continue to drive our sport forward.”
Saif Rashid Al-Noaimi, CEO of Ethara, said: “We are proud to be recognised as Promoter of the Year in such a competitive field of promoters. This award is a testament to the strength of the Ethara team, who are delivering our vision to become a regional powerhouse in live entertainment. We will continue to pioneer the delivery of unforgettable experiences for the fans from around the world.”
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[The story is as per press release]