Lando Norris wins Formula 1 world championship in the final race of 2025

Lando Norris captured his first ever Formula 1 world championship in the final race of 2025 on Sunday, completing a comeback in a captivating and unpredictable season

Lando Norris captured his first ever Formula 1 world championship in the final race of 2025 on Sunday, completing a comeback in a captivating and unpredictable season.

The 26-year-old McLaren racer finished ahead of rivals Max Verstappen of Red Bull and Oscar Piastri of McLaren in the standings after all three entered the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a chance of becoming the world champion.

Norris played the long game in the race, knowing he only needed a podium finish to clinch the trophy regardless of where his rivals finished. He kept his composure despite an early threat from the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc and a few close calls in wheel-to-wheel racing after pitting for fresh tires and coming out in traffic.

“It’s a long journey,” an emotional and jubilant Norris said in a postrace interview broadcast on F1TV, thanking his team and his family, with whom he celebrated. “It feels amazing. ... I’m just crazy happy.”

Norris finished the race third, behind Verstappen and Piastri.