Lando Norris clinches 2025 F1 world championship with third place in Abu Dhabi
Lando Norris secured his first Formula 1 Drivers' Championship by finishing third at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, capitalizing on the points gap to teammate Oscar Piastri. Max Verstappen won the race, but the final podium was enough for Norris to claim the title.
Lando Norris is the 2025 Formula 1 world champion, securing his first title with a calculated third-place finish behind race-winner Max Verstappen and his own McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. While Verstappen dominated the race, the final podium result gave Norris the points cushion he needed to clinch the championship.
Why it matters:
This victory marks a monumental shift in the F1 landscape, crowning a new champion and ending Max Verstappen's dominant run. For Norris, it's the culmination of a season-long battle and a career-defining moment, proving McLaren's resurgence is complete. The team's strategic management of its two title contenders in the final race was a masterclass in securing the ultimate prize.
The details:
- Max Verstappen controlled the race from pole position, taking his 12th win of the season for Red Bull, but it wasn't enough to influence the championship outcome.
- The real drama unfolded behind him, with Oscar Piastri finishing a strong second. Norris, needing only a podium to secure the title, managed the gap to the cars behind to claim the crucial third place.
- The result confirms McLaren's constructor championship, a double triumph for the Woking-based team.
- Further down the order, Charles Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari, with George Russell fifth for Mercedes. Fernando Alonso scored points for Aston Martin in sixth.
The big picture:
Norris's championship concludes a season defined by a fierce intra-team battle at McLaren and the end of the Verstappen/Red Bull hegemony. His consistency and race-winning performances throughout the year, combined with McLaren providing a title-contending car, were the foundation for this success. The 2025 season will be remembered as the year the guard changed, with Norris emerging as the sport's newest champion.
What's next:
The focus immediately shifts to the 2026 season and the new regulations. Norris will enter as the defending champion, with a target on his back. All teams will now begin their winter development, with McLaren aiming to defend both titles and rivals like Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes plotting their comeback.