Lando Norris clinches 2025 F1 title as Verstappen wins Abu Dhabi finale

Lando Norris is the 2025 Formula 1 World Champion, securing the title with a nerve-wracking third-place finish in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Max Verstappen won the race from pole position, but the day belonged to Norris, who held off late pressure to become the 11th British driver to claim the sport's ultimate prize.

Why it matters:

Norris's championship victory marks a monumental shift in F1's competitive hierarchy, ending a long period of dominance by Red Bull and Max Verstappen. It validates McLaren's remarkable resurgence and rewards Norris for his years of development, cementing his status among the sport's elite. The title fight going down to the final race also underscores the increased competitiveness of the 2025 season.

The details:

The race unfolded as a tense strategic battle between the three title contenders starting at the front.

• Verstappen aced the start from pole, while Oscar Piastri executed a brilliant move around the outside of Norris at Turn 9 on the opening lap to take second.
• Norris faced immediate pressure from Charles Leclerc's Ferrari, falling into a DRS train after his first pit stop and becoming entangled in a critical moment with Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda.
• Tsunoda, instructed to slow Norris, forced the McLaren driver off the track on the back straight. While Norris's pass was investigated, it was Tsunoda who received a five-second penalty for forcing another driver off, a decision that proved crucial for the championship outcome.
• The race's decisive phase came during the second pit stops. Ferrari pitted Leclerc early for a fresh set of medium tyres, forcing McLaren to react. They brought Norris in before race leader Piastri, who was struggling on old tyres.
• This strategic call released Verstappen, who passed Piastri for the effective race lead, while Norris emerged in third—the position he needed to win the title.

The big picture:

With the final stops complete, Norris's task was to manage his hard tyres to the finish while Leclerc, on faster mediums, closed in from behind. Leclerc initially cut the gap significantly, but Norris stabilized the deficit at around four seconds, expertly managing his pace and tyre life under immense pressure. At the front, Verstappen controlled the race to take his eighth win of the season, with Piastri securing second and the runner-up spot in the championship.

What's next:

Norris crosses the line third, sparking celebrations at McLaren for their first drivers' title since 2008. The 2025 season concludes with a new champion crowned, setting the stage for an intriguing 2026 campaign. All teams will now turn their focus fully to the next generation of cars and power units, with the entire grid aiming to dethrone the new champion from Woking.