On Sunday, a tense Abu Dhabi Grand Prix gave fans one of the sport’s most emotional finishes. Lando Norris secured his first Formula 1 world championship after crossing the line third at the season finale. With that finish, Norris ended a 17-year wait for McLaren to reclaim the Drivers’ crown.
Despite fierce competition from teammate Oscar Piastri and reigning champion Max Verstappen, Norris held his nerve under pressure. As fireworks lit up the Yas Marina night sky, McLaren’s long drought finally came to an end — and with it, a new champion rose.
F1 in Abu Dhabi: Championship Battle Comes Down to the Wire
Heading into the final race, Norris carried a narrow 12-point lead in the standings. On track, the drama piled up. Verstappen delivered another winning performance, while Piastri drove hard to finish ahead of Norris’s rivals. Still, Norris’s earlier consistency and points cushion helped him hold off both challengers.
LANDO NORRIS IS THE 2025 FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPION!!!! 🏆#F1 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/Rg4cc4OwlU
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 7, 2025
When the checkered flag fell, the ending triggered scenes of celebration: Piastri and Verstappen hurried to embrace Norris, who later crumpled in relief, falling into his parents’ arms.
What This Title Means for McLaren
This championship marks McLaren’s first Drivers’ title since 2008, the year their then-driver team champion was Lewis Hamilton. The long dry spell ended spectacularly. For decades, fans lamented McLaren’s inability to close the gap to top teams. Now, 17 years later, they stand at the top again.
For McLaren, the title isn’t just about history — it’s about redemption. It’s a message to the paddock that the team has rebuilt itself into a champion-winning outfit.
Norris’s Moment: Emotion, Relief, Glory
For Norris, the win means more than silverware. The picture of him breaking down over the radio, then embracing his rivals and parents, captured raw emotion. It told the story of pressure, expectation, and finally — victory.
At 26, he becomes McLaren’s latest champion and the 11th British driver to claim the F1 world title. His journey from bright youngster to world champion closes a chapter on struggle and opens another on promise.
What Comes Next: Challenges Ahead
Now comes the hard part: staying at the top. With competitors eyeing McLaren and Norris more closely than ever, the team must guard against complacency. Rivals will study every weakness; McLaren must evolve further to remain a champion.
For Norris and McLaren, the 2025 title night is a victory — but also a beginning.
