Lando Norris drove exactly the race he needed to secure his first Formula 1 championship, eeking out the season two points ahead of Max Verstappen with his podium finish Sunday night in Abu Dhabi.
Norris lost second on the opening lap to his teammate Oscar Piastri, who could only claw back and win a title with a victory or second-place finish, and needed Norris at the back of the points to do so. Knowing that Piastri’s race was with Verstappen, Norris focused on risk management. Step one: keep the even persistent Ferrari for Charles Leclerc behind, step two: collect the WDC trophy.
Advertisement
Norris completed 2025 with seven wins, just one year removed from his first Grand Prix win, seven poles, and 18 podiums. The British driver beat his competition in podium counts and fell one win and pole short of Verstappen.
While Verstappen got to celebrate one more victory with Red Bull and the frustrating RB21 before the massive car changes next year, Norris found himself crying in his car following his burnouts on the surface of Yas Marina, letting his emotions shine through following the biggest accomplishment of his young career.
Norris was the hunted all season. He won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix to become the early favorite for the championship, but just four rounds later, he had given that lead and 10 points to Piastri. Setting Norris up as the McLaren driver, defending a run from someone further back in the field. For half the year, the storylines stayed on what Papaya-clad driver was going to secure McLaren their first drivers’ championship since 2008, and then Mad Max entered the picture.
Advertisement
With just two wins through 15 rounds, the most recent coming in Emilia Romagna for round seven, Verstappen wasn’t supposed to be a threat. The Red Bull driver, frustrated with the RB-21, was convinced he wouldn’t win another race all season; instead, he won six, including Sunday’s finale.
It started looking dire for Norris after his DNF in the Dutch Grand Prix, where his teammate won, and Verstappen finished one step off the podium. Piastri now led Norris by 34 points in the first race following summer break.
Two races later, Oscar Piastri DNF’d in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as the younger McLaren driver hit a plateau; Norris could cut back into the points lead. The only problem was that Verstappen was winning again, winning back-to-back races at Monza and Baku to rise along with Norris.
Advertisement
McLaren, with their Papaya rules and constant questions of teammate management, found itself in a difficult position. They were so ahead of the grid that the constructor’s title was locked up in Singapore, but the WDC was at real risk to Verstappen.
Norris won in Mexico City to take the points lead from his teammate, then he backed it up in Brazil.
The 2025 season was close to being wrapped up when Norris podiumed in Las Vegas with just two rounds remaining, but then came the double disqualification for the McLaren drivers. Now Verstappen was equal on points with Piastri, and Norris was not safe from the threat outside the organization or the threat within.
Advertisement
The title was brought to the final round, resulting in a second Verstappen win as McLaren made the wrong strategy call for their drivers in Qatar. The three drivers entered the final race with seven wins apiece. Verstappen improved to eight, taking a final victory to end his tenure as a four-time consecutive champion.
“I still wanted to fight to the end,” Norris said of the final race. “That’s what we’ve had to do this season with Max chasing us the whole way and Oscar catching up again. They certainly didn’t make my life easy this year.”
Norris became the youngest driver to be promoted at McLaren in 2019 after starting with the outfit in 2017; his entire F1 career is painted papaya orange.
Advertisement
More than just Lando Norris won Sunday night, as the Briton was lifted all season by his McLaren brothers and sisters. Peter Fox – Getty Images
“It’s been a long journey with McLaren,” Norris said from the podium. “I’ve been with them for nine years. We’ve been through plenty of crazy, difficult times and plenty of good times. So for me to feel like I can bring something back to them, it’s their first Drivers’ in many, many, many years, so I feel like I did my part for the team this year and I’m very proud of myself for that, but I’m even more proud of everyone that I hopefully made cry.”
After pressure from Leclerc on the opening laps, the only time that Norris’s pending WDC hung in the balance was when the Stewards noted his overtake on Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda.
Advertisement
While racing his way back to third position after being the first of the three championship contenders to pit, Norris was momentarily held up by Verstappen’s teammate. Tsunoda told the Red Bull wall that he knew what to do before he started swerving to defend against Norris.
Norris overtook off track and was noted, but so was Tsunoda swerving. Eight laps later, the FIA answered with a five-second penalty for Tsunoda and no further action for Norris. The now-champion was never informed of the investigation, McLaren deciding that no news was good news for the driver.
When told following the race, Norris said it didn’t cross his mind because he knew he did nothing wrong.
Advertisement
“I had no idea,” he said of the incident and any potential repercussions. “I didn’t care. I knew what I did was fine, so I had nothing to worry about.
“I was just trying to enjoy the moment. Not many people in the world, not many people in Formula 1 ever get to experience what I’ve experienced this season and this year, so I’m happy for everyone. I’m happy for everyone more than me, but I’m just crazy happy.”
You Might Also Like