What a moment at Yas Marina! This past Sunday, 7 December 2025, Lando Norris clinched his first-ever Formula 1 world title in Abu Dhabi, ending Max Verstappen’s four-year reign. 🏁🏆
The 26-year-old Brit finished third behind race winner Verstappen and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri to seal the crown by just two points (423 to 421). After crossing the line, his engineer’s radio call was pure magic: “That’s it mate, you are world champion, world champion!” Norris replied, “Thank you guys, you made a kid’s dream come true.”
Tears flowed on the podium under the desert lights. “I haven’t cried in a while… but I did,” Norris said. He thanked his mum and dad for their lifelong support. “It feels amazing. I know now what Max feels like a little bit. Congrats to Max and Oscar – it’s been one wild year!”
McLaren also celebrated a hat trick of success after sealing their second straight Constructors’ title last month in Singapore. Team chief Zak Brown called it “awesome” and praised both Lando and Oscar for a “fantastic season.”
Norris is the first British driver to lift the F1 crown since Lewis Hamilton in 2020, bringing McLaren’s all-time drivers’ titles to 13. The legacy goes way back to Emerson Fittipaldi in 1974, then James Hunt, Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen and Hamilton in 2008.
Reflecting on his journey, Norris said, “Anything can happen, so I just kept pushing until the end. Verstappen and Piastri didn’t make it easy, but I’m proud of what we achieved together at McLaren over these nine years.”
This season finale was the first title fight decided by more than two drivers since that epic four-way showdown in Abu Dhabi in 2010. And what a finish it was! 🔥
Reference(s):
Tearful McLaren driver Norris clinches "amazing" Formula 1 world title
cgtn.com
