Lando Norris crowned 2025 F1 World Champion in Abu Dhabi decider

Lando Norris has won his first Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship by finishing third at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, becoming the 11th British world champion and McLaren’s first title winner since Lewis Hamilton in 2008.

The 26-year-old’s maiden crown ends Max Verstappen’s four-year dominance of the sport, with the Red Bull driver finishing just two points behind in the standings despite winning Sunday’s race.

Verstappen dominated the season finale from pole position, securing his eighth victory of the campaign, but his extraordinary late-season surge fell agonizingly short. 

The Dutchman had clawed back from a 104-point deficit following the Dutch Grand Prix, creating belief within Red Bull that another championship was possible. 

However, Norris’s consistency throughout the season, highlighted by dominant wins in Mexico and Brazil, ultimately proved decisive in the title race.

Red Bull motorsport director Helmut Marko acknowledged the defeat “hurts,” explaining that McLaren’s overwhelming strength in the second half of the season left them without support from rival teams. 

“With each race, our gap became smaller, which created euphoria,” Marko told Servus TV, “but McLaren and Max were so strong that no Ferrari or Mercedes could challenge them.”

Verstappen lost crucial points at key moments, including incidents in Barcelona, Budapest, and the Austrian Grand Prix, though Marko conceded Norris was a worthy champion.

Oscar Piastri finished second in the Abu Dhabi race and third in the championship with 410 points, while Charles Leclerc secured fourth place.

Mercedes won the Constructors’ Championship, with George Russell finishing fifth in the race. Lewis Hamilton ended his challenging first season with Ferrari in eighth place after a remarkable comeback from 16th on the grid.

An emotional Norris celebrated with his family immediately after the race, delivering a tearful message thanking his team and parents. “You have made my dreams come true,” he said over team radio, later adding that his best performances came when under pressure.

Despite missing the championship, Red Bull remains optimistic for 2026 when new power unit and chassis regulations take effect. 

Marko insisted the team possesses the technical capability to build a competitive package and challenge for the title once more, signaling another fierce battle ahead in Formula 1’s future.