In a historic night at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Britain’s Lando Norris brought an end to Max Verstappen’s four-year reign to claim his first-ever Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship. While Verstappen crossed the finish line first on Sunday, his victory was not enough to stop the McLaren driver from securing the ultimate title.
A Thrilling Season Finale
Max Verstappen dominated the race, finishing 12.5 seconds ahead of second-place Oscar Piastri. Lando Norris followed in third, trailing the Dutchman by 16.5 seconds. To secure the championship, Norris knew he needed a podium finish in Abu Dhabi. By clinching third place, Norris ended the season at the top of the standings, edging out Verstappen by a narrow 2-point margin. Oscar Piastri finished the season in third place, 13 points behind the champion.
Breaking Records and Ending Droughts
Verstappen had entered the weekend as the four-time defending champion. His loss to Norris marks the first time in 1,457 days that the Red Bull driver has failed to secure the world title.
Norris’s triumph is a landmark moment for his team and country:
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He is the first McLaren driver to win the World Championship since Lewis Hamilton in 2008.
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McLaren achieved their first “Double” (Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles) since 1998.
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The 26-year-old becomes the first British World Champion since Lewis Hamilton in 2020.
An Emotional Victory
As he crossed the line, Norris’s engineer radioed in: “You are the World Champion! World Champion!” An emotional Norris replied, “Thank you, guys. You’ve made a young boy’s dream come true.”
On the podium, with tears in his eyes, Norris shared his feelings: “I haven’t cried in a long time. I didn’t think I would, but here I am. Thank you to my mum, my dad, and everyone who has supported me from the start. I can begin to understand how Max feels now. Congratulations to both Max and Oscar.”
Despite his disappointment, Verstappen remained gracious in defeat. “I am certainly not disappointed. I am proud of everyone. We never give up,” said the former champion.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix served as the final race of the 2025 Formula 1 season. Norris entered the race knowing that even the smallest error could hand the title to Verstappen or his teammate Piastri, the latter of whom had led in 15 Grands Prix throughout the year.
