Norris Beats Verstappen, Piastri To Win 2025 Formula 1 Title

McLaren’s Lando Norris won his first Formula 1 drivers’ championship by finishing third in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.

The 26-year-old won the title after finishing two points clear of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who won the race to take his eighth victory of the year, one more than Norris, and his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri.

Verstappen emerged the winner of the race in Abu Dhabi, while Oscar Piastri finished second, and Lando Norris ended in third, which was enough to see him crowned champion of the 2025 Formula one season.

McLaren were always in control of a race packed with tension even though Verstappen was on course for victory from the first lap, because Piastri finished second and was in a position to help Norris if needed.

Norris became the 11th British F1 world champion at the end of his seventh season in F1, a year that he started slowly but in which he came on strong in the second half of the year.

He was 34 points behind Piastri after the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August when he suffered a late mechanical problem on his car, but he was able to produce a stunning fightback to emerge champion.

And it is McLaren’s first drivers’ and constructors’ title double since 1998.

Norris described the feat as amazing, while congratulating Verstappen, and Piastri.

He said: “I’ve not cried in a while and I didn’t think I would cry but I did,” said a jubilant Norris.

“I mean, it feels amazing, I now know what Max feels like. I want to congratulate Max and Oscar, my two biggest competitors the whole season.

“It’s been a pleasure to race against both of them and an honour, I’ve learned a lot from both of them as well.

“I’ve enjoyed it and it has been a long year but we did it and I’m so proud of everyone.”

Charles Leclerc finished fourth in Sunday’s race for Ferrari with George Russell fifth for Mercedes and Fernando Alonso sixth for Aston Martin.

Esteban Ocon was seventh for Haas, ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.

Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg was ninth in the German’s 250th race and Lance Stroll 10th for Aston Martin.

Norris denied Max Verstappen the opportunity to win the title for the fifth consecutive season.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Top 10 Result:

1.Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2.Oscar Piastri, McLaren
3.Lando Norris, McLaren
4.Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
5.George Russell, Mercedes
6.Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
7.Esteban Ocon, Haas
8.Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
9.Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
10.Lance Stroll, Aston Martin