Norris Survives Tsunoda Blockade to Clinch 2025 F1 Championship in Abu Dhabi Thriller

Lando Norris clinched his maiden Formula 1 World Championship by a razor-thin 2-point margin after surviving Yuki Tsunoda's aggressive defensive maneuvers in the championship-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The McLaren driver overcame a nerve-jangling battle with the Red Bull-owned AlphaTauri car, which was instructed to impede Norris's progress to help Max Verstappen secure a fifth consecutive title.

Why it matters:

This championship outcome marks a historic shift in F1's power dynamics, ending Verstappen's dominant streak and validating McLaren's multi-year rebuild. The incident also spotlights the ethical boundaries of team orders in championship-deciding moments, with Red Bull's tactical gambit backfiring spectacularly despite Verstappen winning the race.

The details:

• With Verstappen leading the race but needing Norris to finish fourth or lower, Red Bull instructed Tsunoda to "race" the championship contender – a directive the Japanese driver acknowledged with "I know what to do" over team radio.
• Tsunoda repeatedly weaved across the racing line on the Yas Marina back straight, forcing Norris onto the infield grass during a critical Turn 5 overtake attempt where all four wheels left the track.
• Stewards' ruling: Tsunoda received a 5-second penalty for illegal weaving, while Norris's off-track pass was deemed legal after investigation – a decision that ultimately preserved Norris's third-place finish.
• Norris revealed his team anticipated such tactics: "We knew Tsunoda might try to hold me up, like Perez did to Lewis years ago. It got pretty close – if that was five centimetres closer, it's over."
• Charles Leclerc applied additional pressure from behind, closing within 0.8 seconds before Tsunoda's intervention created the decisive bottleneck.

What's next:

The result triggers immediate scrutiny of defensive driving regulations, with rival teams likely to demand clearer guidelines on track limits during championship battles. Verstappen's narrow defeat – the closest margin since 2008 – intensifies pressure on Red Bull to address their strategic miscalculation, while McLaren celebrates its first drivers' title since 1999.

• FIA officials confirmed they'll review radio communications between Red Bull and Tsunoda to assess potential team order violations.
• Norris's championship win, achieved with three race wins and 12 podiums, cements McLaren's resurgence after years of midfield struggles.
• The incident reignites debate about whether drivers should be compelled to race freely during championship-deciding moments – a dilemma that could influence 2026 sporting regulation updates.