Lando Norris Crowned 2025 F1 World Champion; Verstappen Takes Abu Dhabi GP Victory

Lando Norris clinched the 2025 Formula 1 world championship with a calm third-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, closing the season with just enough points to stay ahead of Max Verstappen. Verstappen took the race win at Yas Marina, but missing the title by two points changed the tone of the finale. For McLaren fans, the moment carried extra weight as the team collected its first drivers’ crown since 2008. Norris began the race with a 12-point buffer and needed only a podium to seal the deal. He lost a spot to Oscar Piastri at the start and came under early pressure from Charles Leclerc, but he focused on the bigger picture rather than chasing the lead battle.

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McLaren switched Norris to an early stop on lap 16 to cover George Russell’s undercut attempt, with Leclerc following him into the pits. The move put Norris in slower traffic, so he had to work through midfield cars while keeping Leclerc within a safe margin. The gap between them stayed steady as the laps went on, and Norris settled into a rhythm that kept his championship position secure without taking unnecessary risks.

A tense moment came when he caught Yuki Tsunoda. The Red Bull driver defended hard and later received a five-second penalty. Norris avoided contact, made the move cleanly and settled back into third place. From there the task was simple: hold track position and bring the car home. Once he crossed the line, the points added up in his favour, confirming him as world champion even with Verstappen winning the race.

Up front, Verstappen finished 12.594 seconds clear of Piastri to give Red Bull the season finale win. Piastri’s second place also secured him third in the standings. Leclerc took fourth for Ferrari, followed by Russell in fifth and Fernando Alonso in sixth. Behind them came Esteban Ocon, Lewis Hamilton, Oliver Bearman and Nico Hulkenberg to complete the top ten.

Hamilton delivered a strong recovery drive from 16th to eighth after a tough qualifying. His points added to Ferrari’s tally on the final day. The season wrapped up with Norris earning his first world title and delivering McLaren a long-awaited championship moment.

Verstappen ended the year as runner-up for the first time in his Formula 1 career, closing a season that reshaped the fight at the front and set the stage for new battles in 2026.

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In the Constructors’ standings, McLaren secured the 2025 championship at round 18 during the Singapore Grand Prix. Mercedes finished second, narrowly ahead of Red Bull Racing. Ferrari took fourth place.

Williams ended the season as the leading midfield team in fifth, followed by Racing Bulls, Aston Martin, Haas, Sauber and Alpine.