Lando Norris clinches first F1 World Championship in emotional Abu Dhabi finale

Lando Norris is the 2025 Formula 1 World Champion. The McLaren driver sealed the title with a tense, calculated drive to third place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, finishing behind race-winner Max Verstappen and teammate Oscar Piastri to finally claim the crown after a season-long duel. An overwhelmed Norris paid tearful tribute to his team and family in an emotional post-race moment, marking a historic achievement for both driver and resurgent team.

Why it matters:

Norris's championship victory represents the culmination of McLaren's remarkable multi-year resurgence and ends a dominant era for Red Bull and Max Verstappen. For Norris, it validates years of patience and development with a team that struggled in the midfield when he joined. The title also breaks a long drought for McLaren, securing their first drivers' championship since Lewis Hamilton's 2008 triumph, and signals a major shift in the sport's competitive hierarchy.

The details:

• The championship was decided by a mere two points, with Norris finishing on 423 to Verstappen's 421, after a season featuring 10 different race winners.
• Norris started second but was overtaken by Piastri early, settling into a defensive third place for much of the race with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc applying constant pressure from fourth.
• The strategic focus was entirely on securing the necessary points, with Norris admitting he was managing the championship situation in his mind throughout the 58-lap race while still pushing to the final stages.
• In emotional radio messages and a tearful interview with David Coulthard, Norris dedicated the win to McLaren and his parents, highlighting a "long journey" through "crazy difficult times."

The big picture:

This championship is a story of partnership and persistence. Norris joined McLaren's junior program in 2017 and made his F1 debut with the team in 2019, enduring several uncompetitive seasons before the team's technical overhaul began bearing fruit. His loyalty and development mirrored the team's own climb from the midfield, culminating in a 2025 season where McLaren provided a car capable of consistently challenging Red Bull. The intra-team dynamic with the rapidly improving Oscar Piastri also pushed Norris to new levels, creating a championship-winning environment.

What's next:

The celebration in Abu Dhabi marks the end of one journey and the beginning of another. Norris and McLaren will immediately shift focus to defending their hard-won titles in 2026, a season that will also introduce major new technical regulations. The pressure now rests on Norris as a reigning champion and on McLaren to maintain their technical momentum. For the sport, a new champion and a renewed top team promise a compelling and unpredictable era ahead.