The 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit delivered the kind of Formula 1 season finale every fan dreams about. Under the floodlights of Abu Dhabi, Max Verstappen took a superb race victory, but it was Lando Norris who claimed the ultimate prize and became the 2025 Formula 1 World Champion after a tense third place finish for McLaren.
This dramatic title deciding race will be remembered as one of the most gripping endings to a modern F1 season, with three drivers entering the final round in championship contention and the outcome only being settled on the last laps of the year.
A title decided at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025
Round 24 of 24 at Yas Marina Circuit was always set to be the decisive moment in the 2025 Formula 1 season. Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri arrived in Abu Dhabi locked in a tight championship fight after an intense year of racing.
Verstappen started on pole position for Red Bull and went on to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025, securing his eighth win of the season and fifth victory at Yas Marina. However, the championship mathematics meant that victory alone was not enough. Norris only needed a podium finish to become World Champion, and his calm, controlled drive to third place sealed the title by the smallest of margins.
Final 2025 F1 Drivers Championship standings
Lando Norris 423 points
Max Verstappen 421 points
Oscar Piastri 410 points
With these results, Norris became the 2025 Formula 1 World Champion while Verstappen narrowly missed out despite winning the race, and Piastri completed an outstanding season to secure third in the standings.

Lando Norris makes British Formula 1 history
By taking the title in Abu Dhabi, Lando Norris became the eleventh British Formula 1 World Champion, joining an elite list that includes Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Damon Hill. His triumph also delivered McLaren their first Drivers Championship since Hamilton’s success in 2008, ending a long wait for the iconic team from Woking.
Norris achieved this in his seventh season in the sport, after years of steady growth, heartbreak near misses and constant improvement. While he did not take the crown as quickly as some legends of the sport, this made the moment even more meaningful. His journey with McLaren has lasted nine years from junior development to title winner, and his first championship felt like the completion of a shared dream between driver and team.
How Norris built his 2025 World Championship season
The foundation of Norris’s 2025 F1 title was consistency, race craft and key victories at crucial moments. He opened his season strongly with a win in Melbourne, immediately putting himself in the early championship conversation. After a difficult run mid season, he responded in style with victory in Monaco, one of the most prestigious races on the calendar, reigniting his charge.
Further wins in Austria and at Silverstone showcased his versatility across different circuits, with the Silverstone win marking an emotional first home race victory in front of the British fans. A dominant drive in Hungary added more momentum, followed by a commanding performance in Mexico City where he controlled the race from the front.
One of the defining weekends of his campaign came in Sao Paulo, where Norris won both the Sprint and the Grand Prix. That double success proved vital in a season where every point mattered. Even a painful DNF in Zandvoort, where he fell 34 points behind team mate Oscar Piastri, did not break his resolve. Instead, he fought back relentlessly, closed the gap and arrived in Abu Dhabi with the title within reach.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025 race recap
The race at Yas Marina Circuit was a masterclass in pressure management and race strategy. Max Verstappen led from pole and executed a near perfect drive at the front for Red Bull, opening up a strong gap and controlling the pace. Oscar Piastri also delivered a high quality performance, running in second place for most of the race and keeping Verstappen honest.
Behind them, the real story was Norris, who knew that any major mistake could cost him the World Championship. With Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc applying pressure and strategic decisions constantly evolving around tyre choices and pit stop windows, Norris had to balance aggression with caution.
Verstappen moved clear and headed toward victory, while Piastri and Norris secured second and third on the road. For Verstappen, the win brought pride and another Abu Dhabi triumph, but the title slipped away by just two points. For Norris, third place felt like the biggest result of his life.
Emotional celebrations for McLaren and Norris
The scenes after the chequered flag at Yas Marina Circuit captured the emotion of a true F1 championship classic. As fireworks lit up the Abu Dhabi night sky, Norris performed celebratory donuts on the main straight before climbing from his McLaren to the cheers of the crowd.
In parc ferme and on the grid, Norris was mobbed by his McLaren crew, embraced by CEO Zak Brown, and congratulated by team mate Piastri and rival Verstappen. His family joined the celebrations, adding to the human side of the story as his mother was seen offering commiserations to Piastri before returning to celebrate with her son.
Norris admitted through tears that he had not expected to cry, but the long journey from rookie to World Champion, and the weight of expectation, made the moment overwhelming. He thanked his team, his engineers, McLaren staff at the factory and his parents, acknowledging the years of work and belief that led to this title.
Max Verstappen shines in defeat
Although he missed out on the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship, Max Verstappen once again proved why he is considered one of the greatest drivers of his generation. Winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025 with authority, he showed speed, control and race intelligence in a car that was not always the fastest across the season.
There was no bitterness in defeat. Verstappen appeared relaxed and philosophical in the cooldown room, even sharing light conversations about tyre wear with Piastri. He understood the narrow margins that defined this title race and recognised the level of performance Norris and McLaren produced over the year.
A season finale that defines an era
The 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit was more than just the last race of the year. It was the final chapter of the current era of Formula 1 regulations and the closing act of a three way title fight that kept fans engaged from the opening rounds to the last lap.
With three elite drivers, two top teams and a championship that came down to a handful of points, the 2025 season will be remembered as one of the most competitive and dramatic in modern Formula 1 history.
As the sport now looks ahead to new regulations in 2026, one thing is clear. Lando Norris enters the next era as the reigning Formula 1 World Champion, McLaren has returned to the top of the drivers standings, and the rivalry with Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri promises many more unforgettable battles in seasons to come.




















