In a season that kept fans on the edge of their seats, Lando Norris clinched his first Formula 1 world title on the final lap of the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The McLaren driver finished third behind Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, a placement that was enough to overtake his rivals in the championship standings.
A Season of Ups and Downs
Norris entered the 2025 season as the favourite, taking victory in the opening race and setting a high bar for the rest of the year. However, the early momentum was disrupted when Oscar Piastri began to outshine his teammate, capturing the championship lead and holding it for the majority of the season. Norris’s performance dipped during the middle months, while Verstappen’s campaign suffered a 104‑point deficit after the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
In the weeks that followed, Verstappen fought his way back with a string of strong results. A pivotal moment came at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where McLaren faced a double disqualification for illegal plank wear, a setback that forced Verstappen to regroup.
The Final Stretch
Late in October, Norris experienced a hot streak that allowed him to reclaim the points lead. He held a 12‑point advantage over Verstappen and a 16‑point lead over Piastri as the season’s last race approached. With a maximum of 25 points available for a win, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix became a clear winner‑takes‑all showdown.
At the start of the race, Verstappen qualified on pole and immediately set a fast pace. Norris began the race from second place, but was overtaken by Piastri on the opening lap, pushing him into third. Norris then focused on managing his tires, while Piastri pressed hard to keep Verstappen’s advantage.
Key Moments on the Track
- Pit Strategy: Norris was the first title contender to pit for fresh tires on lap 17. He emerged into heavy traffic and had to overtake several cars, a maneuver that created tense moments.
- Blocking Attempt: Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda was kept out of the race to block Norris, aiming to protect Verstappen’s lead. The tactic failed when Norris passed Tsunoda, who was subsequently penalised with a five‑second time penalty for improper blocking.
- Red Bull Response: McLaren CEO Zak Brown described Tsunoda’s manoeuvre as “a dangerous and unnecessary maneuver” during a mid‑race interview on ESPN.
- Radio Interaction: As the race neared its end, Verstappen asked his team radio whether Norris faced a threat from Charles Leclerc. The race engineer reassured him that the danger was unlikely.
With the final laps approaching, Norris briefly chased Piastri for second place. He ultimately settled for third, a position that secured the championship because the points gap to Verstappen and Piastri was only two and thirteen respectively.
Victory and Aftermath
After crossing the line, Norris spoke to his team over the radio: “I love you guys. Thanks for everything. You deserve it. We did it, guys!” He later reflected in a post‑race interview, saying, “It’s a long journey,” and thanked both his team and his parents, adding, “It feels amazing… I’m just crazy happy.”
Norris’s triumph ended Verstappen’s four‑year reign and made him the first British driver to win the title since Lewis Hamilton in 2020. For McLaren, it was the first driver’s championship since 2008, also won by Hamilton, and the first overall since 1998 when the team captured both the driver’s and constructors’ titles.
Norris had vowed after winning the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that “Next year is going to be my year.” He delivered on that promise, but the road to victory was anything but straightforward.
Key Takeaways
- Lando Norris secured the 2025 F1 World Championship with a third‑place finish at Abu Dhabi.
- The race ended Max Verstappen’s four‑year title streak and crowned the first British champion since 2020.
- McLaren celebrated its first driver’s title in 17 years, following a season of strategic battles and on‑track drama.
The 2025 season will be remembered as a rollercoaster of performance swings, strategic gambits, and a dramatic finale that saw a rising star claim the sport’s highest honour.
