In a dramatic climax to the 2025 Formula 1 season, McLaren's Lando Norris secured his first World Championship during Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, ending Max Verstappen's four-year dominance. The 26-year-old Briton claimed the title by a razor-thin two-point margin after finishing third behind Red Bull's Verstappen and teammate Oscar Piastri in the desert night race.
"I haven't cried in a while, but I did tonight," an emotional Norris told reporters at Yas Marina Circuit. "This is what every driver works for since childhood." The victory marks McLaren's 13th drivers' championship and their first since Lewis Hamilton's 2008 title.
The season-long battle saw three drivers mathematically in contention until the final race – a rarity not seen since 2010. Piastri led the standings for much of the year before Norris' late-season surge, culminating in his Mexico Grand Prix overtake that set up the championship decider.
McLaren's double success this year, having secured their constructors' title in Singapore last month, signals a resurgence for the historic British team. Team principal Andrea Stella praised Norris' "relentless determination," while CEO Zak Brown called the victory "a testament to three years of strategic rebuilding."
Norris' triumph continues Britain's strong F1 legacy, making him the first British champion since Hamilton's 2020 title. His win also revives memories of McLaren's golden era, joining legends like Senna, Prost, and Hakkinen in the team's hall of champions.
