ABU DHABI -The tension and emotional final of the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, Lando Norris clinched his first-ever Formula One World Championship title by finishing third — barely enough to edge his Max Verstappen’s rival by a tiny gap in championship points.

Norris 26 earned 423 points at the end of the season 2 points better than Verstappen who won his race at the Abu Dhabi race, and 13 points ahead of his teammates Oscar Piastri, who finished third in the driver’s standings with 410 points.

Although his rivals finished ahead in the raceVerstappen won the flag with Piastri in second place -It was Norris’s calm and consistent performance through the entire 2025 race that eventually won the race.

The title is a significant moment for McLaren this is their first driver’s race in the last few years since Lewis Hamilton last claimed it in 2008.

The tears of joy and relief came out in a flood when Norris reached the finish line. In the team’s radio, he declared: “Thank you guys.” In his post-race interviews Norris said that the Briton admitted that he “dreamed about this race for an extended period of time.”

The thrilling final saw high-stakes tension and pressure. Verstappen started from pole and had dominated the race. Piastri tried hard to secure his chance to win the title and Norris was forced to contend with the intense competition, but his shrewd drive, calm under pressure and his consistent performance throughout the season made the difference in the historic win.

With this win, Lando Norris has joined the elite of Britain’s 11th F1 world champion. He also makes 2025 the year in which McLaren made it back to the top of motorsport in the world.