Lando Norris clinched his first Formula One world championship by finishing third at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The British driver needed a podium finish to
secure the title, and he achieved it, ending with two more points than Max Verstappen, who won the race. Verstappen had made a remarkable comeback late in the season, but his victory wasn't enough to claim a fifth consecutive title.
Oscar Piastri, another contender for the championship, overtook Norris on the first lap and stayed close to Verstappen throughout the race. However, he finished second. Norris faced a tense moment when Yuki Tsunoda forced him off track, resulting in a five-second penalty for Tsunoda. Charles Leclerc set the fastest lap and posed a significant challenge to Norris but finished five seconds behind him.
Norris' victory marks him as Britain's 11th F1 world champion and McLaren's first since Lewis Hamilton in 2008. This achievement came in his 152nd race for McLaren, placing him fourth for most races with one team. He also secured his 18th podium of the year. Verstappen claimed his eighth win of the season, equalling Hamilton's record for most wins without securing a title.
Lewis Hamilton ended his challenging debut season with Ferrari on a positive note by finishing eighth after starting 16th. He followed George Russell, Fernando Alonso, and Esteban Ocon across the line. Nico Hulkenberg and Lance Stroll completed the top ten positions in this final race of 2025.
Lando Norris, you are a WORLD CHAMPION! #McLaren | #ThisTeam pic.twitter.com/FHVhh3BYOx
- McLaren (@McLarenF1) December 7, 2025
The final standings saw Max Verstappen leading Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in Abu Dhabi. Charles Leclerc finished fourth ahead of George Russell and Fernando Alonso. Esteban Ocon took seventh place before Lewis Hamilton crossed in eighth. Nico Hulkenberg and Lance Stroll rounded out the top ten.
In terms of championship standings, Lando Norris topped with 423 points for McLaren. Max Verstappen followed closely with 421 points for Red Bull, while Oscar Piastri secured third with 410 points for McLaren. In constructors' standings, McLaren led with 833 points over Mercedes' 469 and Red Bull's 451.
Norris' triumph is significant not only for him but also for McLaren as they celebrate their return to championship glory after years of effort. His consistent performance throughout the season has been key to this success story in Formula One racing history.
