Lando Norris wins first F1 world title after tense Abu Dhabi finale

Lando Norris has won the 2025 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship, securing the title with a tense third-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, where Max Verstappen claimed victory ahead of Oscar Piastri.

Starting from second on the grid between Verstappen and teammate Piastri, Norris needed only a podium finish to seal the championship. Despite early pressure — including losing position to Piastri on Lap 1, persistent threats from Charles Leclerc, traffic after the pit cycle, and a dramatic wheel-to-wheel battle with Yuki Tsunoda — the McLaren driver maintained composure to cross the line in third.

Verstappen dominated from pole to take the win, with Piastri finishing 12.594 seconds behind in second. However, the result left Verstappen just two points short of defending the title, while Piastri finished the season third overall, 11 points behind Norris.

Race Results – Abu Dhabi GP 2025 (Top 5):

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:26:07.469
2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +12.594s
3. Lando Norris (McLaren) +16.572s
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +23.279s
5. George Russell (Mercedes) +48.563s

Behind the podium battle, Ferrari’s Leclerc finished fourth after an aggressive chase, while Russell recovered to fifth. Fernando Alonso took sixth for Aston Martin, followed by Esteban Ocon and Lewis Hamilton in a close late-race fight. Nico Hulkenberg marked his 250th Grand Prix with a ninth-place finish, and Lance Stroll claimed the final point in tenth.

Penalties played a role throughout the race, with Tsunoda, Albon, Bearman and Lawson all handed time penalties for infringements. Alpine endured another difficult outing, finishing 19th and 20th.

As the chequered flag fell, celebrations began at McLaren’s garage, with Norris performing victory donuts before climbing atop his car to acknowledge the roaring Abu Dhabi crowd — a moment marking his long-awaited rise to Formula 1 world champion.