Norris clinches 2025 F1 title by two points over Verstappen in Abu Dhabi finale

Lando Norris is the 2025 Formula 1 World Champion, sealing the title with a controlled third-place finish in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The McLaren driver held a two-point lead over Max Verstappen entering the finale and managed it perfectly, finishing behind the Red Bull winner and his own teammate Oscar Piastri to claim the crown by that same narrow margin.

Why it matters:

Norris's victory ends a 17-year championship drought for McLaren, last achieved by Lewis Hamilton in 2008, and marks a monumental shift in the sport's competitive order. It demonstrates that meticulous season-long consistency and points management can ultimately triumph over raw race-winning speed, as Verstappen won the most races in 2025 but fell just short in the final tally.

The details:

• The race unfolded as a strategic battle for Norris, not a fight for victory. He yielded second place to Piastri early on to avoid risk and then focused on managing the gap to the chasing Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.
• The championship leader navigated mid-race traffic cleanly, with his most significant moment coming when he passed Yuki Tsunoda's Red Bull. Norris went off-track completing the move, but stewards took no action as Tsunoda was penalized for excessive defensive moves.
• At the front, Verstappen controlled the race, executing a one-stop strategy to take his eighth win of the season. Piastri, on a similar strategy, finished a distant second, over 12 seconds behind.
• The result cemented a 1-2 in the drivers' championship for McLaren, with Piastri securing runner-up spot ahead of Verstappen.

The big picture:

This title is the culmination of McLaren's sustained resurgence and Norris's own evolution into a complete driver. After years of near-misses and Verstappen's recent dominance, the 2025 season proved that the championship fight is truly multi-dimensional. Norris's triumph, built on relentless podium finishes and crucial race-day composure, rewards a team and driver that have been knocking on the door for several seasons.

What's next:

The 2025 champion will now head into the off-season as the man to beat. All eyes will turn to 2026, where major technical regulations await. Verstappen and Red Bull will be desperate to reclaim the crown, while Ferrari and Mercedes will aim to rejoin the fight at the very front. For now, the celebration belongs to McLaren and Lando Norris, Formula 1's newest world champion.