Britain's Lando Norris has been crowned the Formula One world champion for 2025, sealing the title with a third-place finish at a nail-biting season finale in Abu Dhabi. The McLaren driver's triumph caps a thrilling and turbulent campaign, marked by spectacular wins, intense rivalry, and dramatic setbacks.
A Season of Highs and Lows
Norris's championship-winning year began in perfect fashion with a victory at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne during March. The early momentum continued in Shanghai, where he shared the podium with teammate and title rival Oscar Piastri, who pipped him to the win.
The middle of the season showcased both his brilliance and his resilience. In May, he delivered a masterclass to win the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix, controlling the race from start to finish. However, June brought a major setback in Canada, where a collision with Piastri's car on the pit straight with four laps remaining ended his race.
A emotional high point came in July with a dominant victory at his home race, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, where he celebrated wildly with his McLaren team. Yet, controversy followed at Monza in September. A slow pit-stop hampered his progress, after which the team controversially ordered Piastri to swap positions, handing Norris three crucial extra points.
Drama to the Final Flag
The title battle intensified in the closing stages. A double DNF for Norris and Piastri during the United States Grand Prix sprint race in October, caused when Piastri clipped Nico Hülkenberg and bounced into Norris, added to the tension. A disastrous weekend at the penultimate race in Qatar, where Max Verstappen slashed the points gap to just 12, saw Norris give a thumbs-down in a despondent press conference.
Further drama unfolded in Las Vegas in November. After driving around the iconic Strip Circuit, both Norris and Piastri were disqualified post-race when their cars were found to breach technical regulations regarding skid-wear. Despite the turmoil, a crucial victory in Brazil, where he took the chequered flag waved by Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda, kept his hopes alive.
The Title Decider in Abu Dhabi
Everything came down to the final race at the Yas Marina Circuit in December. With the world watching, Norris secured the necessary third place to finally claim the drivers' championship. The celebrations were immediate and heartfelt, as he embraced his mother, Cisca Norris, and his partner, Magui Corceiro, on the track.
He was also congratulated by McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, capping a remarkable team effort. The 2025 season will be remembered as a fierce three-way fight, with Norris, Verstappen, and Piastri dominating the podium throughout the year, but it is the British driver from Bristol who ultimately prevailed to take his first world title.
