McLaren driver Lando Norris of Great Britain reacts after becoming world champion after the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, December 7, 2025.
Darko Bandic/AP
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Darko Bandic/AP
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – McLaren driver Lando Norris won his first Formula One title at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.
Red Bull driver and defending champion Max Verstappen won the race, with Norris finishing third behind McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in second place, allowing Norris to finish two points ahead of Verstappen in the season standings.
Piastri was also in contention for his first Formula One title and finished third in the standings, 13 points behind Norris.
Norris, 26, became the first British champion since Lewis Hamilton in 2020 and also denied Verstappen a fifth title in a row.
Norris entered into a three-way battle, 12 points ahead of Verstappen and 16 points ahead of Piastri.
Verstappen started from pole position for Red Bull, with Norris on the front row next to him and Piastri third on the grid. Verstappen needed Norris to be fourth or lower, and Norris needed to finish outside the top five if Piastri won.
Verstappen's stunning late-season attack came close to unseating both McLaren drivers after they had shared the lead all season before being undone by driver errors and team strategy.
But not even Verstappen's eighth win of the season and 71st career win could stop Norris, who maintained his composure on Sunday after being under intense pressure in recent weeks.
The McLaren motorhome erupted with joy, with CEO Zac Brown congratulating Norris over the team radio in his usual jovial manner.
“Lando, this is Zach from McLaren. Is this a world champion hotline? You did it! You did it! Amazing,” Brown said.
Norris didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He did both.
“Oh my God, thank you so much. I love you guys. Thank you for everything,” Norris said, then burst into tears.
After crossing the line, Norris remained in his car for a few moments, clearly agitated. His parents were on the side of the track and he walked over to hug them before celebrating with his McLaren engineers and mechanics.
