A dramatic and tense Abu Dhabi Grand Prix culminated in Lando Norris securing his maiden Formula One World Championship. The McLaren driver clinched the title with a third-place finish, despite rival Max Verstappen winning the race.
The outcome was decided by a masterclass of controlled aggression from Norris under immense pressure. His performance, which included several critical overtakes, was executed with flawless precision, delivering McLaren its first drivers’ title since 2008. Teammate Oscar Piastri finished second on the day, but it was Norris who secured the crucial points to top the standings.
The championship marks a monumental turnaround for the McLaren team, which has rebuilt from a difficult period in the last decade into a dominant force. Norris’s victory also ends a five-year wait for a British world champion.
Verstappen, who pushed the title fight to the final race with a remarkable mid-season comeback, ultimately fell just two points short. His victory in Abu Dhabi was not enough to overcome the points gap Norris had established.
The race itself was a strategic battle filled with tension. Norris, starting third, faced immediate pressure and had to fight through traffic after his first pit stop. A pivotal moment came mid-race when he executed a daring pass on Yuki Tsunoda, a move that was briefly under investigation by race stewards before being deemed legal. This bold manoeuvre was essential to his championship charge, preventing any significant time loss.
While Norris celebrated a career-defining achievement, the race underscored a stark contrast in fortunes for seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton. The veteran driver could only manage an eighth-place finish in what has been a deeply challenging first season with Ferrari, concluding a year without a single podium.
Norris’s triumph is the reward for years of perseverance with McLaren, through both lean times and recent resurgence. His composed and relentless drive in Abu Dhabi sealed a historic championship in a finale that delivered high drama to the final lap.