The 2025 Formula 1 season reached a thrilling conclusion at Yas Marina Circuit, where Max Verstappen claimed victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but the night truly belonged to Lando Norris, whose third-place finish sealed the 2025 F1 World Championship.
In front of a record-breaking crowd, the decisive 58-lap showdown began with Verstappen launching cleanly from pole on medium tyres, holding the lead into Turn 1. Norris also opted for mediums, while Oscar Piastri took the start on hards, shaping the early strategy battle for McLaren.
Early Phases: Piastri Attacks, Russell Recovers
While Verstappen controlled the front, the opening lap produced immediate drama behind. Piastri overtook Norris before the first lap was completed, moving into second place and positioning himself as Verstappen’s closest challenger.
Further back, Charles Leclerc and Fernando Alonso fought aggressively over fourth place, while George Russell, despite reporting brake pedal concerns, managed to charge past Alonso to take fifth a lap later.
First Pit Window and Mid-Race Battles
Soft-tyre starters began pitting around Lap 9, prompting the first phase of reshuffling. Meanwhile, Liam Lawson received a five-second penalty for unsafe driving.
At the end of the medium-tyre stint, Russell was the first of the frontrunners to stop on Lap 15. Norris followed shortly after but returned to the track behind Yuki Tsunoda, who became a central figure in the title fight. Red Bull instructed Tsunoda to defend as firmly as possible, but Norris eventually forced his way through after running slightly off track.
Both drivers fell under investigation – Tsunoda for erratic driving (5s penalty), and Norris for overtaking off the circuit (no penalty issued).
Alex Albon was also handed a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane.
Final Stops and Championship Tension
Norris made his final stop on Lap 41, retaining third place without position loss. Piastri followed suit one lap later and rejoined a comfortable second behind Verstappen.
Pierre Gasly became the latest driver penalised for track limits, but the order at the front stabilised as the laps wound down.
Tyre wear, race pace, and the championship equation all aligned in Norris’s favour: third place was enough to secure the title, regardless of Verstappen’s victory.
The Chequered Flag: Verstappen Wins, Norris Makes History
Max Verstappen crossed the finish line as the winner of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but the celebrations erupted in the McLaren garage. Lando Norris, finishing third behind his team-mate Piastri, clinched the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship — the first of his career and McLaren’s first drivers’ title since 2008.
2025 Abu Dhabi GP Race Results:
- Max Verstappen
- Oscar Piastri
- Lando Norris
- Charles Leclerc
- George Russell
- Fernando Alonso
- Esteban Ocon
- Lewis Hamilton
- Lance Stroll
- Oliver Bearman
- Nico Hulkenberg
- Gabriel Bortoleto
- Carlos Sainz
- Yuki Tsunoda
- Kimi Antonelli
- Alex Albon
- Isack Hadjar
- Liam Lawson
- Pierre Gasly
- Franco Colapinto
Catch the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix highlights here.
