Lando Norris secured his first Formula 1 world championship in dramatic fashion, clinching the title in the final race of the 2025 season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The McLaren driver entered the race with a narrow lead over rivals Max Verstappen of Red Bull and teammate Oscar Piastri, making the season finale a high-stakes showdown for the championship.
Norris needed only a podium finish to guarantee the championship and executed his race strategy flawlessly, maintaining composure amid early challenges from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and navigating heavy traffic after a midrace pit stop. He crossed the finish line in third place behind Verstappen and Piastri, a result that secured the title by just two points over Verstappen and 13 points over Piastri. Overjoyed, Norris celebrated with his team and family, calling it “an amazing feeling” and thanking everyone who supported him throughout a season marked by intense competition and personal growth.
The 2025 season had been a rollercoaster for Norris. Despite starting as the championship favorite and winning the opening race, he faced stiff competition from Piastri, who led the standings for much of the year. Norris regained the lead late in the season after a strong run of results, overcoming earlier inconsistencies and learning to manage external pressures. Verstappen also mounted a late-season comeback, including a controversial Las Vegas Grand Prix where McLaren’s rivals faced penalties, but it was not enough to retain his four-year championship streak.
At Abu Dhabi, Verstappen led from pole position, while Norris settled into third after a strong start and a crucial pit stop on Lap 17 that required overtaking multiple cars in traffic. Red Bull attempted to block Norris using Yuki Tsunoda, but the strategy failed, with Tsunoda receiving a five-second penalty for improper blocking. In the final laps, Norris briefly chased Piastri for second but strategically eased off to preserve the points needed for the championship.
Norris’ victory marks the first British F1 world championship since Lewis Hamilton in 2020 and McLaren’s first drivers’ championship since 2008, as well as the team’s first combined drivers’ and constructors’ success since 1998. Reflecting on the season, Norris acknowledged the challenges posed by Verstappen and Piastri, saying, “They certainly didn’t make my life easy this year,” but celebrated a hard-fought triumph that caps a year of resilience, growth, and strategic mastery.