Lando Norris handles nerves for title glory as Max Verstappen wins season finale

Lando Norris handled his nerves to secure the 2025 F1 drivers' title, despite Max Verstappen winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix season finale. 

Verstappen cruised to convert pole position into an eighth victory of the season, whilst Oscar Piastri overtook Norris on the opening lap to finish in second. 

Despite Norris slipping to third on the opening lap, he remained there for the entirety of the race to become the 11th British F1 world champion. 

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Mercedes' George Russell completed the top five, in a race which did not feature a single yellow flag.

First half - Norris escapes penalty; Verstappen and Piastri push on

The title-decider was finely poised with the three contenders starting in the top three on the grid: Verstappen on pole, from Norris and Piastri. 

Of the trio, Piastri opted for a different strategy, starting on the hards unlike his title rivals on the mediums. As the lights went out for the final time in 2025, Verstappen aced the start and immediately moved across to block Norris. 

The top three remained in the same order, until they reached Turn 9 where Piastri magnificently swooped around the outside of Norris. 

Verstappen and Piastri quickly broke away from Norris, who came under significant pressure from Leclerc in fourth – Russell sat in fifth. It was not until the 11th lap that Leclerc fell outside DRS range of Norris – the race was the final appearance of DRS in F1.

The race settled for a period with tyre management having been critical, although Liam Lawson received a five-second time penalty for erratic driving. Russell was the first of the top five to pit at the end of lap 14, in a bid to undercut Leclerc.

Norris and Leclerc reacted at the end of lap 16 and pitted for hard tyres, with Norris having rejoined the circuit in a midfield DRS train – Leclerc was directly ahead of Russell.

Both Norris and Leclerc quickly dealt with the DRS train, with the Ferrari driver having remained within striking distance of the McLaren. Yuki Tsunoda was the next driver to pass. It was clear that both Verstappen and Piastri were attempting a long stint. 

Tsunoda was instructed by Red Bull to do everything he could to slow Norris down, especially with Leclerc being close behind. 

The second Red Bull driver tried and forced Norris off the circuit on Lap 23 along the long back straight, with Norris overtaking but with all four wheels off the circuit. It triggered Red Bull to pit Verstappen immediately. 

Verstappen rejoined comfortably ahead of Norris, putting Piastri into the lead. However, Norris' move on Tsunoda was placed under investigation by the stewards, as all four wheels went beyond the white line along the long back straight. 

Crucially, Tsunoda was also placed under investigation for forcing Norris off the circuit. Tsunoda received a five-second time penalty; Norris escaped punishment.

Second half - Norris handles nerves for title glory

Following Norris' move on Tsunoda, the race entered a period of little action. Piastri continued to lead but with a pit stop to make, ahead of Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc and Russell.

Interestingly, at the end of lap 39, Leclerc pitted for a second time, leaving McLaren with a decision to make over Norris. Piastri's tyres were struggling, with Verstappen having caught him, but it was Norris who the papaya squad opted to pit at the end of lap 40.

As a result of McLaren pitting Norris for a second time before Piastri, Verstappen breezed past the Australian on the long straight  on lap 41 – Piastri pitted at the end of the lap. He rejoined the track in second, with Norris in third and Verstappen in the lead. 

It meant that with the final pit stops complete, Norris was in a position to become world champion. Leclerc was the only threat, as he received a set of medium tyres, compared to Norris on the hards.

Across two laps, Leclerc took 1.8s out of his 6-second deficit to Norris. However, the gap soon stabilised between the pair at four seconds. The driver on the move was Lewis Hamilton, who had worked his way from 16th to eighth and within striking distance of sixth.

At the front, and it all stabilised as well. Verstappen had a comfortable advantage over Piastri and opted against playing any games, as the laps clicked away. 

He crossed the finish line to win with ease from pole position, with Piastri in second. However, all eyes were on Norris, who handled the pressure to finish in third and become the 2025 F1 world champion. 

Leclerc and Russell completed the top five, whilst Hamilton failed to overtake Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon for sixth. Oliver Bearman and Lance Stroll completed the top 10.