Lando Norris wins first F1 world championship title at Abu Dhabi GP

Norris finished 3rd down Max Verstappen successful last contention to present McLaren its archetypal drivers’ satellite rubric since 2008.

A tearful Lando Norris claimed his maiden Formula One satellite drivers’ rubric successful Abu Dhabi connected Sunday, ending Max Verstappen’s four-year reign.

The Briton finished 3rd successful the season-closer down contention victor Verstappen and the different rubric challenger, McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, to assertion the crown by 2 points.

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After crossing the enactment his squad technologist told him: “That’s it mate, you are satellite champion, satellite champion!”

“Thank you guys, you made a kid’s imagination travel true,” helium replied.

“I haven’t cried successful awhile, I didn’t deliberation I would outcry but I did,” Norris said connected the podium successful the godforsaken nighttime astatine the floodlit Yas Marina circuit.

“I privation to convey my mum, my dad, they’ve supported maine since the beginning.

“It feels amazing, I cognize present what Max feels similar a small bit. I privation to congratulate some Max and Oscar, I’ve enjoyed it, it’s been a agelong year!” helium added.

Verstappen dominated the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but it wasn’t capable to triumph a 5th consecutive drivers’ satellite title. The Red Bull operator finished 2 points down Norris successful the 2025 last standings – 423 to 421 [Fadel Senna/AFP]

A large twelvemonth for McLaren

McLaren, headed by squad main Andrea Stella and CEO Brown, secured back-to-back constructors’ titles successful Singapore past month.

“That was exciting, a small excessively exciting, awesome,” said Brown.

“What an effort, Lando and Oscar, what a fantastic season!” added the American.

Norris becomes Britain’s archetypal satellite champion since Lewis Hamilton successful 2020 with this 13th drivers’ crown for McLaren.

The 26-year-old’s occurrence comes implicit fractional a period aft Emerson Fittipaldi claimed the British marque’s archetypal drivers’ rubric successful 1974.

A postulation of F1 greats followed – James Hunt (1976), Niki Lauda (1984), Alain Prost (1985, 1986, 1989), Ayrton Senna (1988, 1990, 1991), Mikka Hakkinen (1998, 1999) and Hamilton successful 2008.

Assessing his way to glory Norris added: “As we’ve seen galore times, thing tin happen. So I conscionable kept pushing. I wanted to combat to the end. (Verstappen and Piastri) surely did not marque my beingness casual this year. But I americium happy!

“It has been a agelong travel with McLaren, I’ve been with them for 9 years.

“For maine to bring thing backmost to them, I consciousness similar I did my portion for the squad this twelvemonth truthful I’m arrogant of myself.”

Piastri, who had led the title for overmuch of the play earlier being overtaken by Norris successful Mexico, finished 3rd successful the standings.

Sunday’s season-closer was the archetypal clip the rubric was decided by a contention involving much than 2 drivers since a four-way scrap astatine the last contention successful Abu Dhabi successful 2010.

Norris crosses the decorativeness enactment 3rd astatine the Abu Dhabi GP to triumph the 2025 Formula One drivers’ satellite title rubric [Andrej Isakovic/AFP]