Lando Norris completed one of Formula One’s most emotionally charged and strategically demanding title deciders by finishing third at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to secure his first F1 World Championship. Despite Max Verstappen winning the race with dominant pace and Oscar Piastri finishing second, the McLaren driver held onto the points he needed to end Verstappen’s four-year run as world champion.
Norris’ controlled drive under sustained pressure, combined with crucial strategic decisions from McLaren and a late-race recovery through traffic, sealed a landmark moment for both the driver and the team, marking McLaren’s first drivers’ title since 2008.
Key Takeaways: F1 Abu Dhabi GP 2025 Highlights and Winner List
Norris Becomes 2025 World Champion With P3 Finish
A calculated third-place finish was enough for Norris to win the title by two points, completing his seven-season rise from rookie to world champion.
Verstappen Wins Abu Dhabi GP but Falls Short in Final Standings
The Dutchman dominated the race and claimed his eighth win of the season, but he ended the championship two points behind Norris.
Piastri Secures P2 in Race and P3 in Championship
Oscar Piastri executed a long early stint and finished second, providing crucial support for Norris’ title run.
Tsunoda’s Aggressive Defence Sparks Investigation
Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda attempted to delay Norris, triggering a stewards’ inquiry and earning a five-second penalty for weaving.
McLaren Returns to Glory After 17 Years
With Norris’ triumph, McLaren captured its 13th drivers’ crown and ended a championship drought stretching back to Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 title.
A High-Stakes Finale: Norris Enters Abu Dhabi Ahead but Under Pressure
The Yas Marina Circuit set the stage for Formula One’s first three-way title decider since 2010. Norris led the championship with 408 points entering the finale, followed by Max Verstappen on 396 and Oscar Piastri on 392. Any of the three could mathematically claim the title, but for Norris the scenario was simple: finish on the podium.
Verstappen secured pole position, setting up an intense start. Norris lined up alongside him, fully aware that overtaking Verstappen early could make his night easier. However, Verstappen aggressively defended into Turn 1, shutting down Norris’ inside line. Moments later, Piastri swept around the outside of Norris at Turn 9 to take second, a move McLaren had discussed strategically prior to the race.
This left Norris in a vulnerable third position with Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari applying immediate pressure. The opening laps were tense but clean, with Leclerc choosing not to force a risky move that could impact the championship outcome.
Early Strategy Unfolds: Pit Stops Create Mid-Race Jeopardy
By Lap 16, Norris and Leclerc were ready for their first pit stops, both switching to hard tyres and rejoining deep within midfield traffic. Norris needed to clear several cars efficiently to regain the track position required to keep his title hopes intact.
His response was clinical. Using DRS down the backstraight, Norris overtook Fernando Alonso and Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli in a single sweeping move—a defining moment in his championship-sealing drive. As he advanced through the pack, McLaren kept him informed of Leclerc’s pace, managing the gap that would later become decisive.
Meanwhile, Piastri continued his long stint on the hard tyres, with McLaren stretching his window to Lap 41 to give him fresher mediums for the final sprint. Verstappen pitted earlier, staying in the lead group but unable to influence Norris directly on track.
Tsunoda vs Norris: The Controversial Moment of the Race
The turning point came when Norris approached Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda, who was running long on hard tyres and had been instructed to slow Norris’ progress.
“Norris within DRS within one lap,” Tsunoda was told. “All you can when he catches.”
What followed was one of the most dramatic moments of the evening. As Norris closed in with DRS, Tsunoda weaved left and right, squeezing Norris dangerously close to the wall. Norris threaded his McLaren through a narrow gap to complete the overtake, with replays showing one wheel crossing the white line—prompting immediate investigation.
Also Read: Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025: Verstappen Punishes Lando Norris’ Mistake, Tightens F1 Championship Fight
Inside the McLaren garage, tensions rose sharply. Norris’ engineer Will Joseph called it “classic Red Bull behaviour,” hinting at orchestrated tactics similar to Perez’s infamous defence against Hamilton in 2021.
After several tense minutes, stewards ruled that Norris had not gained an illegal advantage and took no action against him. Tsunoda, however, was penalised five seconds for weaving. It was likely the final notable moment of his Red Bull racing career, as he shifts to a reserve role in 2026.
Final Pit Stops Bring Late-Race Strategy Battles
On Lap 40, Ferrari brought Leclerc in for a second stop, switching him onto fresher mediums for a final push. McLaren responded immediately by pitting Norris on Lap 41 for another set of hards, ensuring he maintained track position.
For a few laps, there was genuine concern. Leclerc began trimming the gap on newer tyres, raising the threat that Norris could fall to fourth—a scenario that would hand the championship to Verstappen.
But Norris stabilized the pace beautifully. His tyres came into temperature, the Ferrari’s charge faded, and the margin widened again, restoring calm within the McLaren garage.
Up front, Verstappen passed Piastri cleanly and cruised to the chequered flag, completing his sixth win in the last ten races and eighth of the season. But it wasn’t enough.
Norris’ Final Laps: Control, Emotion, and a Dream Fulfilled
As Norris began the final lap, the worst of the pressure had passed. Leclerc was too far behind to threaten. Piastri was comfortably ahead, with no need for intra-team risk. The Briton simply needed to guide his McLaren home—and he did so perfectly.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown came on the radio moments before Norris took the flag:
“Is this the world champion hotline?”
Norris, overwhelmed, replied:
“Thanks guys. I love you. I’m gonna cry.”
Fireworks erupted over Yas Marina as Norris crossed the line in third place, fulfilling a dream he’d chased since childhood and ending a 1,457-day period in which Verstappen had held the world championship crown.
Full Winner List & Race Results: Abu Dhabi GP 2025
- Max Verstappen – Red Bull
- Oscar Piastri – McLaren
- Lando Norris – McLaren
- Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
- George Russell – Mercedes
- Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin
- Esteban Ocon – Haas
- Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari
- Nico Hulkenberg – Sauber
- Lance Stroll – Aston Martin
- Gabriel Bortoleto
- Oliver Bearman
- Carlos Sainz
- Yuki Tsunoda
- Kimi Antonelli
- Alex Albon
- Isack Hadjar
- Liam Lawson
- Pierre Gasly
- Franco Colapinto
Final F1 2025 Championship Standings
- Lando Norris – 423 pts
- Max Verstappen – 421 pts
- Oscar Piastri – 410 pts
Norris becomes the 35th different world champion in Formula One history and McLaren’s first since 2008.
A New Era Begins for McLaren and Formula One
The 2025 season will be remembered not for last-lap chaos or shock twists, but for a champion who kept control when it mattered most. Lando Norris’ first world title reflects maturity, strategic clarity, a season-long comeback, and an unshakeable partnership with McLaren. After nine years with the team, he finally delivered the crown they had been waiting nearly two decades for.
This triumph not only ends Verstappen’s era of dominance but also opens a fresh chapter for Formula One—one in which Norris, Piastri, and a hungry field of challengers reshape the sport’s competitive landscape.
FAQs on Lando Norris Winning the 2025 F1 World Championship
1. How did Lando Norris win the 2025 F1 World Championship?
Lando Norris secured the title by finishing third in the Abu Dhabi GP, giving him enough points to beat Max Verstappen by two and Oscar Piastri by thirteen.
2. Why did Max Verstappen lose the 2025 championship despite winning the race?
Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi GP but fell two points short in the standings because Norris’ controlled P3 finish gave McLaren the championship advantage.
3. What role did Oscar Piastri play in the Abu Dhabi title decider?
Oscar Piastri finished second after a long first stint, strategically supporting McLaren and securing enough points to finish third in the championship.
4. What happened during Lando Norris’ battle with Yuki Tsunoda?
Tsunoda defended aggressively, forcing a stewards’ investigation. Norris was cleared, while Tsunoda received a five-second penalty for weaving under braking.
5. When was the last time McLaren won a drivers’ championship before 2025?
McLaren last won a drivers’ title in 2008 with Lewis Hamilton, making Norris the team’s first world champion in seventeen years.
