Lando Norris claimed his maiden Formula 1 World Drivers" Championship after a tense and thrilling finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix held at the Yas Marina Circuit on December 7, 2025. The McLaren driver secured the third-place finish needed to seal the title, edging out his rivals in a historic three-way championship showdown.
"This moment means everything after a long and hard-fought season with the team," Norris said reflecting on his championship triumph.
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SubscribeMax Verstappen dominated the season finale from pole position, converting his advantage into a victory for Red Bull Racing ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri, who finished second. Verstappen's strong performance capped off an impressive end to the year, but it was not quite enough to overhaul Norris in the final standings.
Piastri put up a strong challenge throughout the 58-lap race, securing the runner-up spot on the podium and helping McLaren cap off a stellar championship campaign. Meanwhile, Verstappen's victory successfully propelled Red Bull to third place in the constructors" standings.
Historic F1 Season Finale and Standings
The 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marked the first World Drivers" Championship-deciding final round since 2021, and the first featuring more than two contenders since 2010. Lando Norris entered the weekend leading the standings with 408 points, closely pursued by Max Verstappen and teammate Oscar Piastri.
"We knew the pressure would be immense coming into this final race, but we executed our plan and got the job done," stated the newly crowned champion.
Norris" third-place finish allowed him to edge out Verstappen by just two points in the final classification, becoming Britain's first World Drivers" Champion since 2020. Piastri finished the season strongly in third place overall, capping off a dominant year for the McLaren squad.
The race also marked a historic milestone for Lewis Hamilton, who finished eighth, concluding an entire 19-year season without recording a single grand prix podium for the first time in his career.