With a measured, risk-free approach, Lando Norris secured third place at the Yas Marina circuit and claimed the first world championship of his Formula 1 career. Max Verstappen delivered another brilliant race and crossed the line as the winner, but even that wasn’t enough to overturn the championship outcome. Oscar Piastri finished second, while Charles Leclerc narrowly missed the podium in fourth place.
Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from pole position, yet when he reached the chequered flag he had to remove the number 1 from his Red Bull and hand it symbolically to the new world champion, Lando Norris. The Dutchman gave everything in an attempt to pull off what had seemed an impossible comeback: he ended the season just two points behind the British driver. There was nothing more he could have done against a McLaren team that returned to the top of the drivers’ standings for the first time since Mika Hakkinen in 1999.
Lando Norris becomes the 35th driver to win the Formula 1 world championship, doing so with a third-place finish that carried the weight of a victory. The 26-year-old from Bristol fought hard through a challenging Grand Prix: his race became complicated when he rejoined the track in traffic after his pit stop, forcing him to defend from a very aggressive Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari. Norris kept his composure even when Yuki Tsunoda, who had yet to pit, made life difficult during their lap-23 battle. The Japanese driver, following instructions from the Red Bull pit wall, changed his line multiple times, pushing Norris to complete the overtake with all four wheels beyond the white line. Tsunoda received a five-second penalty, while Norris kept the position and put a decisive stamp on a fully deserved championship.
The cool-down lap after the historic chequered flag was emotional, with Norris breaking down in tears like a young kid achieving his lifelong dream. The McLaren driver had to build a carefully planned race to secure the title, making two pit stops while the front two, who had their own separate battle, required only one.
Nothing came easy for Norris. After a painful retirement in Zandvoort due to a mechanical issue, he began working closely with a mental coach who helped him build resilience and manage the emotional toll of the title fight. Max Verstappen, meanwhile, mounted a spectacular offensive, coming within reach of a fifth world title. He captured his 71st career victory, his eighth win of the season—one more than each of the McLaren drivers—and his fifth triumph at Yas Marina, matching record-holder Lewis Hamilton.
Norris needed 110 races to take his maiden win, but now he reaps the rewards of years of development with McLaren, the team that guided him from his debut to the ultimate achievement. Winning the world championship required eight long seasons. At one stage he seemed to be slipping out of the title hunt, with Oscar Piastri appearing to break away, but Norris stayed consistent and worked his way back into contention. He also benefitted from the so-called “papaya rules”, which allowed him to gain three valuable points over Piastri at Monza following a team error during the Australian’s pit stop.
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