In an emotionally charged and nail-biting conclusion to the 2025 Formula 1 season, Lando Norris has been crowned Formula 1 World Champion for the first time. The McLaren driver secured the title by a mere two points after a tense finale at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, 7 December 2025.
Emotional Scenes as Norris Makes History
A tearful Norris was overcome with emotion after crossing the line, his voice cracking with joy over the team radio. "Oh ****, thank you guys, oh my god, we made history, thanks so much," he exclaimed. "I love you guys, thanks for everything, you deserve it. I love you Mum, I love you Dad, I'm crying." The 26-year-old was seen wiping tears from his eyes as he emerged from his car to a rapturous reception from the Abu Dhabi crowd.
Norris, who becomes the 11th British driver to win the F1 world title, pipped Red Bull's reigning four-time champion Max Verstappen to the crown. Verstappen won the final race, but it was not enough to overhaul Norris's points lead. The McLaren star also held off his own teammate, Oscar Piastri, who finished second in the race.
A Tense Finale and a Season-Long Battle
The championship decider was a fraught affair from the start. Norris suffered a nightmare opening, being overtaken by Piastri, and later avoided a potential penalty for an overtake on Yuki Tsunoda. McLaren team principal Zak Brown even described the Red Bull as "dangerous" during the incident.
Speaking after the race, Norris reflected on the immense pressure. "You can’t not think about it [the title]," he admitted. "I know it’s a long race, we’ve seen many times that anything can happen. I kept pushing until the last two or three laps, we did what we had to do this season." He paid tribute to his rivals, saying, "I want to congratulate Max and Oscar, my two biggest competitors, it’s been a pleasure and honour to race them."
The End of an Era and a New Dawn for McLaren
For Verstappen, his reign as champion since 2021 has come to an end, despite a remarkable fightback from a 104-point deficit during the summer. The Dutchman was gracious in defeat, stating, "We can be proud of the second half of the season, I'm not disappointed, we can be proud of everyone."
For Norris and McLaren, the victory marks the culmination of a nine-year partnership. "It’s been a long journey for me and McLaren," Norris said. "We’ve been together nine years, been through crazy times. It’s their first drivers title in many years, I did my part for the team this year." With expert pit stops and cool driving in the closing stages, Norris guided his car home to secure a historic double World Championship for the iconic Papaya team.
