Lando Norris crowned 2025 Formula 1 World Champion after tense Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Lando Norris secured his first Formula 1 World Championship in Abu Dhabi by finishing third at Yas Marina Circuit, beating Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri in a season finale decided by only two points.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025: title decided at Yas Marina Circuit

The 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix served as a straight fight for the World Championship between Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri, with the night race at Yas Marina Circuit providing the decisive battlefield under the floodlights.

Norris arrived in Abu Dhabi with a clear target: finish on the podium to guarantee the title regardless of what his rivals achieved. Starting alongside Verstappen and Piastri, he managed the pressure across 58 laps to become the 35th World Champion in Formula 1 history at just 26 years old.

Different tyre strategies at the start shaped the opening laps

The choice of starting tyre played a central role in the opening phase of the race and influenced how the three contenders attacked the first stint.

Verstappen and Norris opted for medium tyres to maximise grip off the line and maintain track position, while Piastri started on the hard compound to extend his first stint and create an offset strategy. This allowed the Australian to overtake Norris around the outside on the opening lap, reshuffling the early running order at the front.

The leading trio remained unchanged for 17 laps, with Norris carefully managing tyre wear and engine modes to stay within range while preparing for an undercut opportunity once the pit window opened.

First pit stops: Norris triggers the undercut and charges through the field

The first round of pit stops was launched by Norris, who dived into the pits before his title rivals to gain track position through fresher tyres and clean air.

After a clean stop, he rejoined in ninth place, narrowly ahead of Charles Leclerc and George Russell. With warm tyres and strong pace, Norris quickly cleared traffic, overtaking Antonelli and Sainz, then executing a double move on Stroll and Lawson before passing Ocon to climb back to fourth in just a few laps.

This aggressive yet controlled phase was crucial in keeping him within mathematical title contention while Verstappen and Piastri extended their initial stints.

A tense moment with Tsunoda and a key steward decision

The most delicate moment of Norris’s race came during his battle with Yuki Tsunoda, Verstappen’s teammate, who was ahead on track after the first pit cycle.

Norris overtook Tsunoda for third place on lap 23 but placed all four wheels beyond the track limits during the move. While the manoeuvre was under investigation, Verstappen pitted, temporarily handing the race lead to Piastri and adding strategic complexity for Red Bull and McLaren.

The stewards ultimately decided to penalise Tsunoda with five seconds for moving twice under braking while defending, and no penalty was given to Norris. This ruling preserved Norris’s track position and removed a major threat to his title chances.

Final stint: Verstappen wins the race, Norris secures the championship

The closing laps turned into a balance between outright race victory for Verstappen and title security for Norris, with Piastri also in the mix for both the race and the championship.

On lap 41, Norris pitted for the second time and rejoined in third place, while Verstappen reclaimed the lead from Piastri, who did not defend aggressively knowing his own stop was imminent. After Piastri’s final stop, the order settled with Verstappen first, Piastri second, and Norris third, with gaps of more than 20 seconds between each driver.

Despite Charles Leclerc’s late push with successive fastest laps and warnings issued to Verstappen for track limits, the top three remained unchanged to the chequered flag. Verstappen took the race win, Piastri finished second, but Norris’s third place delivered enough points to end Verstappen’s four-year title streak.

Seven wins and relentless consistency for Norris in 2025

The 2025 title was built on a combination of victories, podiums, and consistent points finishes across a long 24-race calendar.

Norris recorded seven Grand Prix victories over the season, matching Piastri’s tally and finishing just one win behind Verstappen’s eight. More importantly, he avoided costly retirements and maximised results on weaker weekends, often turning potential damage-limitation races into solid podiums.

His final total of 423 points placed him two points clear of Verstappen on 421 and 13 ahead of Piastri on 410, underlining how every overtaking move, pit call, and defensive manoeuvre across the year contributed to the final outcome.

How Lando Norris secured the 2025 F1 title in Abu Dhabi: key steps

The championship was sealed through a precise combination of race management, strategic calls, and risk control at Yas Marina Circuit.

1. Start on the medium compound to balance launch performance and stint length against rivals on different tyres.
2. Accept the early loss of position to Piastri while preserving tyre life and maintaining proximity to the leading pair.
3. Trigger the first pit stop among the title contenders to benefit from the undercut and escape midfield traffic early.
4. Execute decisive but controlled overtakes on Antonelli, Sainz, Stroll, Lawson, and Ocon to return to the top four rapidly.
5. Complete the pass on Tsunoda for third while keeping the car under control, avoiding contact and relying on stewards to assess defensive moves.
6. Manage the second pit stop window to rejoin in a safe podium position, without exposing the race to unnecessary wheel-to-wheel risk.
7. Protect tyre performance and track limits in the final laps, focusing on finishing third rather than chasing Piastri or Verstappen at all costs.

2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix results: top 10 finishers

The race classification reflects Verstappen’s control at the front, McLaren’s strength with a double podium, and Norris’s measured drive to the title.

• 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 – Oliver Bearman (Haas)
• 10 – Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber)

2025 Formula 1 drivers’ championship: final standings at a glance

The final drivers’ standings highlight how narrowly the 2025 World Championship was decided and how competitive the season proved to be.

• 1 – Lando Norris (McLaren): 423 points
• 2 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull): 421 points
• 3 – Oscar Piastri (McLaren): 410 points
• 4 – George Russell (Mercedes): 319 points
• 5 – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): 242 points
• 11 – Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls): 51 points
• 15 – Esteban Ocon (Haas): 38 points
• 18 – Pierre Gasly (Alpine): 22 points