Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Dec. 7, but Lando Norris claimed his Formula One driver’s championship by finishing third and holding off a late challenge from Oscar Piastri.
Verstappen led from pole and crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 26 minutes, 7.469 seconds. Piastri was second, 12.594 seconds behind, while Norris finished 16.572 seconds back to secure the title by two points.
“This is an incredible feeling,” Norris said in victory lane. “I can’t believe it. It’s a dream come true. I’m so proud of the team, they worked so hard all season.”
Norris, 26, started the title-deciding race from second on the grid, knowing that finishing in the top three would be enough to secure the crown.
He navigated the pressure-filled race, managing his tires and staying focused despite attacks from Charles Leclerc and Yuki Tsunoda.
Norris made crucial overtakes, including a move on Tsunoda, to secure his third-place finish.
Verstappen, who had dominated the season’s final stretch, won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but it wasn’t enough to catch Norris in the championship standings.
“We can be really proud of our fightback,” Verstappen said after the race. “I know you’re disappointed, but I’m not disappointed. We gave everything, I’m proud of everything we did.”
Piastri, Norris’s teammate, finished second, just 12.594 seconds behind Verstappen.
The result ended Verstappen’s run of four straight championships and gave McLaren its first drivers’ crown since Lewis Hamilton in 2008.
McLaren has already clinched the constructors’ title, powered by 14 victories between Norris and Piastri, is a testament to the team’s dedication and hard work.
“This is a moment we’ve been working towards for a long time,” Andrea Stella, McLaren team principal, said. “Lando’s talent and determination have been key to our success this season.”
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc finished fourth, George Russel was fifth for Mercedes and Fernando Alonso took sixth for Aston Martin.
The 2025 Formula 1 season has delivered one of the most competitive campaigns in recent memory.
Before Abu Dhabi’s winning-defining race, Norris had led the standings with 408 points, followed closely by Verstappen with 369 and Piastri with 391.
Verstappen kept his title hopes alive with a decisive win at the Qatar Grand Prix, capitalizing on a rare McLaren pit error.
Earlier in November, both McLaren cars were disqualified in Las Vegas for failing skid wear inspections, a ruling that briefly boosted Verstappen’s chances.
As the sport prepares for sweeping regulation changes in 2026—including increased electrification and active aerodynamics—Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marks the end of the 2025 season and sets the tone for Formula 1’s next era.
Norris’ breakthrough has been widely seen as the start of a new chapter for McLaren.
With both Norris and Piastri delivering consistent podiums and ending with double podiums, the team’s resurgence has raised expectations of the beginning of McLaren’s dominations in the upcoming 2026 season.
The 2025 campaign now heads into its winter break. Teams will regroup and prepare for the next season, which begins with the Australian Grand Prix in March 2026.
