Norris Clinches Championship at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

When Land Norris crossed the finish line at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year, securing McLaren’s first constructors’ championship since 1998, it was more than just a victory—it represented a commitment to future success.

Norris fulfilled that promise today.

After finishing the race last year, Norris congratulated his team and confidently declared, “Next year is going to be my year.” Well, he arrived in Abu Dhabi this time with serious ambitions.

Entering the final race of the 2025 season, Norris had a solid shot at his first drivers’ championship. Qualifying in second place, he felt good about his chances and ultimately finished on the podium, positioning himself well for the title.

However, it wasn’t the straightforward title race one might expect.

Instead of battling Verstappen for the lead, Norris found himself defending against his teammate, Oscar Piastri, who was gunning for third place. Both Verstappen and Norris kicked off the race on medium tires, but Norris lost some ground early on as the MCL39 was overtaken.

“Indeed, we have just seen the end of the season,” noted David Coulthard in the F1TV commentary booth.

Although Norris settled for third behind Verstappen and Piastri, he couldn’t shake off Charles Leclerc. Following a pit stop by Mercedes’ George Russell, McLaren instructed Norris to pit as well. He made a quick pit stop on lap 17, fitting hard tires in just 2.1 seconds to get back in the mix.

“Great stop, 2.1 seconds under pressure,” Palmer emphasized on F1TV.

Unfortunately, Norris returned to the track amidst traffic, meaning that his championship hopes hinged on overtaking those ahead of him. He swiftly passed Kimi Antonelli for eighth place, then reeled in Carlos Sainz Jr. for seventh.

This was his pivotal moment.

On lap 19, he managed to overtake Lance Stroll and Liam Lawson, landing in fifth place. Lawson attempted to reclaim his position on lap 20, but Norris held firm.

Yet, another key opportunity loomed just ahead.

After Esteban Ocon pitted from fourth, Norris came face-to-face with Hiroki Tsunoda, Verstappen’s former teammate. There were questions swirling: could Tsunoda help Verstappen just as Sergio Perez had done for his championship rival in 2021?

During lap 23, Norris was close enough to take advantage of DRS, marking a “pivotal moment” in the championship. How quickly could he pass Tsunoda, or would Tsunoda hold strong as a rear guard for Verstappen?

Norris made quick work of Tsunoda on the inside, moving into third place as Verstappen switched to hard tires, ceding the race lead to Piastri.

But that pass raised eyebrows.

Even as Tsunoda tried to defend, it appeared Norris could potentially go off track to gain the edge. Would race officials step in?

Indeed, they intervened, handing Tsunoda a five-second penalty for making two or more changes in direction. Meanwhile, NASCAR officials closed the investigation into Norris, ensuring it would be “no further action.”

The sound of relief from the McLaren team was palpable across the pit wall and among fans in the grandstands.

Yet, the race wasn’t finished. At the end of lap 40, McLaren called Norris in for his last pit stop, covering Leclerc’s tire change as well. With another swift 2.4-second stop, Norris rejoined the race in third place, back in the hunt for the championship.

Out on the track, Verstappen still hadn’t pitted and was running hard tires after 41 laps. McLaren then called Piastri in for a mandatory stop, fitting him with medium tires for the final stretch.

As the laps ticked away, Verstappen maintained a 23-second gap over Piastri, while Norris trailed Leclerc by over four seconds. With Verstappen on older tires, the stage was set for Norris with team orders possibly on the horizon.

With just ten laps left, Verstappen held a commanding lead, but the real drama came from how that would impact Norris’ chances of clinching the title.

Over the radio, Verstappen asked about Leclerc’s proximity to Norris, aware that if Norris fell to fourth, he could lose his championship bid.

Although Leclerc closed in, the gap wasn’t narrowing rapidly enough to threaten Norris’ chances.

Camera angles then shifted to Norris’s mother, Sisca Waumann, nervously watching in the McLaren garage, knowing her son was just a few laps away from making history.

With five laps to go, Norris had widened his gap over Leclerc to more than seven seconds, with Piastri just ahead. As it stood, Verstappen was leading, but all eyes were on Norris as he approached glory.

Back in the field, intense battles ensued, with Ocon and Lewis Hamilton clashing, alongside a fight between Gabriel Bortleto and Stroll. They were vying for mid-point standings, but the focus remained on the leaders.

Ultimately, Verstappen took the victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix; however, Norris secured third place, thereby clinching his first drivers’ championship.

This season has wrapped up one of the most exhilarating in F1 history. Norris and Piastri led for much of the summer, but Verstappen’s incredible resurgence solidified his legacy. After being 104 points behind Piastri following the Dutch Grand Prix, he came within striking distance going into the final lap.

This victory at Abu Dhabi brought Verstappen eighth overall for the year, outpacing both Norris and Piastri.

While Norris just edged out the title by a mere two points, the race will be remembered for years.

Piastri, too, impressed in his third year on the grid, showing he could compete at the highest level—from making waves during his home race early in the year to amassing a solid points lead during the initial laps of the season.

But, in the end, it was Norris who emerged victorious.

“I love you all. Thank you for everything,” he said over the radio, in tears.

This championship caps an incredible journey for Norris and McLaren, which began with his entry into the junior program in 2017 and his subsequent move to F1 in 2019. They’ve come a long way since a challenging start in 2023.

I remember speaking with Norris before the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he expressed that his aim was simply to be competitive, focusing on scoring points alongside rookie teammate Piastri.

Norris commented on his expectations for the 2023 season, saying, “It’s a difficult question. Our goal now is to get points. I think that’s realistic. We’ve got some big upgrades in the second half of the season, so we’re just going to keep chipping away.”

Now, here he stands, at the pinnacle of the F1 world.

This season has truly been one for the history books. While Norris and Piastri were key players throughout, Verstappen’s late surge was nothing short of remarkable. Despite falling behind earlier in the season, he pushed his rivals to their limits as the finale approached.

In the end, it was the thrill of the chase that left an indelible mark.

Tonight, Norris is the world champion.