Lando Norris Crowned World Champion After Dramatic Abu Dhabi Finale
A tearful Lando Norris clinched his first Formula 1 world championship after securing the third-place finish he needed in a tense Abu Dhabi Grand Prix finale.
The 26-year-old sealed the title by just two points over Max Verstappen, who won the race for his eighth victory of the season—one more than Norris and Oscar Piastri, who completed a strong 1–2 for McLaren.
Despite Verstappen controlling the race from the start, McLaren always looked in command overall. Piastri finished second and was perfectly placed to support Norris if the title fight became tight.
Norris becomes the 11th British world champion, achieving the dream at the end of his seventh season in Formula 1. After a slow start to the year, he surged in the second half to emerge as Verstappen’s toughest challenger.
It is also McLaren’s first drivers’ and constructors’ title double since 1998.
“I haven’t cried in a long time, but I did today,” Norris said. “It feels unbelievable. Now I understand what Max has felt for years. Congrats to Max and Oscar—they’ve pushed me all season, and I’ve learned so much racing against them.”
Although McLaren have had the quickest car for much of the year, Norris’ triumph carries extra weight because he beat Verstappen—a driver widely viewed as the standout talent of his generation.
Norris broke down in tears during the cooldown lap, thanking his team and family for helping him reach his lifelong goal.
Key moments from the title-decider
- McLaren and Norris kept calm under massive pressure
- Norris battled Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda, who attempted to help Verstappen mid-race
- Verstappen dominated the Grand Prix, rounding off one of the best seasons of his career
McLaren master the pressure
McLaren entered the race under huge strain after two rough weekends—a double disqualification in Las Vegas and a strategy error that gifted Verstappen victory in Qatar. Despite having wrapped up the constructors’ title with six races left, they still needed perfection in Abu Dhabi.
Norris made a cautious start, refusing to tangle with Verstappen as the Dutchman defended aggressively into Turn 1.
Half a lap later, Piastri swept around Norris into second at Turn Nine—a move McLaren had already discussed as part of their strategy to give the Australian a chance to challenge Verstappen on a different tyre plan.
Piastri started on hard tyres, while Verstappen and Norris were on mediums, putting McLaren in a flexible position for the race ahead.
Norris then settled into a controlled fight with Charles Leclerc for third and maintained his composure throughout. After his second pit stop, he closed in on Piastri but didn’t need to attack—third place was enough for the title.
“It’s surreal,” Norris said. “I’ve chased this for years. There have been ups and downs, but all that matters is coming out on top—and we did.”
The Tsunoda moment
The scariest moment for Norris came after his first stop when he caught up to Yuki Tsunoda. Red Bull had started the Japanese driver on hard tyres specifically to try to disrupt Norris’ race—similar to Sergio Pérez’s defensive work against Hamilton in the controversial 2021 finale.
Told over the radio that he “knew what to do,” Tsunoda weaved aggressively down the straight on lap 23. Norris dove down the inside and kept his foot in as Tsunoda edged him toward the outside.
The move was investigated for a potential illegal overtake off the circuit, but stewards ruled Norris had not gained an advantage. Tsunoda, however, was penalised for excessive weaving.
From there, Norris simply had to keep the car running smoothly to the finish—which he did, sealing a dream title and closing out a remarkable season for McLaren.
It is the team’s first drivers’ crown since Lewis Hamilton’s maiden championship in 2008.