Lando Norris Wins the 2025 F1 World Championship in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates. Lando Norris is the 2025 Formula 1 World Champion. The McLaren driver finished third in the season finale at Yas Marina on Sunday, which was enough to beat Max Verstappen to the title by two points even though Verstappen won the race for Red Bull Racing.

Oscar Piastri finished second and ended the season 11 points behind Verstappen in third. Norris became the sport's 35th World Champion.

"Oh God! I've not cried in a while," Norris said. "I didn't think I'd cry but I did. It's a long journey. First of all, I want to say a big thanks to my guys, everyone at McLaren, my parents... My mum, my dad, they were the ones who supported me since the beginning."

A tense afternoon

Norris arrived 12 points clear of Verstappen and 16 ahead of Piastri, but Verstappen seized the initiative by beating both McLarens to pole.

Halfway around the opening lap, Piastri, starting on the harder tyres, went around the outside of Norris at Turn 9 to take second. Norris still held the position he needed, but Charles Leclerc of Ferrari and Fernando Alonso were close behind, and Leclerc tried a move into Turn 9 on Lap 4 that did not stick.

After his first stop on Lap 16, Norris rejoined in traffic. On Lap 23 he caught Yuki Tsunoda, who almost forced him onto the grass on the run to the Turn 6 and 7 chicane. Norris kept his cool to complete the pass. The stewards gave Tsunoda a five-second penalty for weaving and took no further action against Norris.

From there Norris managed the gap to Leclerc, and the title was his.

"It feels amazing. Now I know what Max feels like a little bit, and I want to congratulate Max and Oscar, my two biggest competitors all season," Norris said. "It's been a long year, but we did it, and I'm so proud of everyone."

The rest of the finale

Leclerc was fourth, about seven seconds behind Norris, followed by George Russell, Alonso, Esteban Ocon and Lewis Hamilton after a fierce late fight for seventh. Nico Hulkenberg came home ninth in his 250th race, and Lance Stroll took the final point despite a penalty for erratic driving.

Gabriel Bortoleto just missed out in 11th. Ollie Bearman fell from ninth to 12th after a penalty, Carlos Sainz was 13th and Tsunoda finished 14th in his last race as a full-time Red Bull driver.

For more, see Formula 1's race report (opens in a new tab).

Norris' first win of his title defense came with his Hungarian Grand Prix victory, and he added a wet win at Interlagos. The 2026 crown went to Kimi Antonelli, who clinched it in Mexico City.

Sources: Formula 1. More Formula 1 coverage on Undrafted.

Photo: McLaren via X