US NEWS: Lando Norris is the 2025 Formula 1 world champion. The 26-year-old British driver sealed his maiden title Sunday night at the Yas Marina Circuit, edging out Max Verstappen by a razor-thin two-point margin in one of the closest finales in recent memory.
Norris crossed the line in third place in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Verstappen taking the race win and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri rounding out the podium in second. That result was enough to secure the drivers’ crown for Norris and end Verstappen’s four-year reign at the top of the sport.
The victory marks Britain’s first world championship since Lewis Hamilton claimed the title in 2020 and delivers McLaren its thirteenth drivers’ championship in team history.
Moments after taking the checkered flag, an emotional Norris radioed his team with a breaking voice: “Thank you guys, you made a kid’s dream come true.” Later on the podium under the Yas Marina floodlights, tears rolled down his cheeks as he thanked his parents for their lifelong support and spoke of his pride in repaying McLaren after nine seasons with the team.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown summed up the tense evening in simple terms: “That was exciting, a little too exciting, awesome. What an effort from Lando and Oscar. What a fantastic season.”
The 2025 campaign delivered nonstop drama across 24 races. For the first time since 2010, three drivers entered the final weekend with a realistic shot at the title. Piastri kicked off the year with three straight victories in Bahrain, Jeddah, and Miami, while Norris battled early inconsistency and open self-criticism.
A turning point arrived in Monaco, where Norris claimed pole position with a track-record lap and converted it into his first win of the season. Additional triumphs followed in Austria, Silverstone, and Hungary, keeping him in contention despite a retirement in Canada after contact with Piastri.
By the Dutch Grand Prix, Norris trailed Piastri by 34 points after a mechanical failure. Many believed the championship had slipped away, but Piastri’s results began to falter under pressure, allowing Norris to fight back. He reclaimed the lead in Mexico and extended his advantage with a commanding weekend in Brazil.
Intra-team tension peaked in Singapore when the two McLaren drivers collided while battling for position. Piastri voiced his frustration over the radio, questioning whether the contact was acceptable under the team’s policy of letting its drivers race freely.
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A controversial double disqualification in Las Vegas briefly handed Verstappen fresh hope, but Norris kept his composure. Heading into Abu Dhabi, a podium finish was all he needed, and third place delivered the title in style.
In the final standings, Norris finished atop the championship, Verstappen took second just two points behind, and Piastri secured third.
After years of close calls and near misses, Lando Norris stands as the newest world champion in Formula 1, a popular and emotional breakthrough for one of the sport’s brightest talents.