

Lando Norris is the 2025 Formula 1 World Champion after a tense Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that saw Max Verstappen take the race win but fall just short in the title fight. Oscar Piastri completed the podium in second, sealing McLaren’s first Drivers’ crown since 2008 and a historic double after their Constructors’ triumph.
The Yas Marina Circuit hosted a fitting finale to the 2025 season, with three drivers still in contention for the championship: Norris, Verstappen, and Piastri. Norris entered the race with a 12-point lead over Verstappen and 16 over his McLaren teammate, knowing a podium would be enough to secure the crown.
Verstappen started from pole and led from the outset, but the Dutchman’s task was clear — he needed Norris to finish fourth or lower to snatch the title. Piastri, starting third on the hards, made an early move on Norris at Turn 9, slotting into second and setting up a strategic battle between the McLarens.
Norris becomes the 11th British driver to win the F1 World Championship, delivering McLaren’s first Drivers’ title since Lewis Hamilton in 2008. His season included seven wins, 18 podiums, and a remarkable comeback after trailing Piastri by 34 points mid-season.
While Verstappen ended the year with more race victories (8), Norris’s relentless points-scoring and ability to limit damage in difficult weekends proved decisive.
McLaren managed both drivers’ races without resorting to team orders in Abu Dhabi, trusting Norris to secure the podium he needed. Their split strategies kept Red Bull from manipulating the pace and ensured both cars finished in the top three.
Verstappen’s late-season surge was extraordinary, but the RB21’s pace deficit earlier in the year left him too much to do. Without a rival disrupting Norris in Abu Dhabi, his win was not enough.
With McLaren on top, Red Bull still formidable, and Ferrari and Mercedes seeking redemption, the new regulations promise a reset. Norris will defend his crown against a hungry Verstappen and a determined Piastri, while Audi’s arrival adds intrigue to the midfield battle.

He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.