Lando Norris secures maiden F1 title to end McLaren drought

Lando Norris has etched his name into the Formula 1 history books by winning the 2025 world championship, becoming the 35th F1 driver to clinch a title.

Norris entered the year as many people's favourite for the championship following his strong end to last year's campaign.

However, it was team-mate Oscar Piastri who held the lead of the standings for much of the year, albeit with Norris never sitting too far away.

Norris' title chances took a major hit at the Dutch Grand Prix as a power unit issue forced him to retire from the race, allowing Piastri to stretch out a 34-point lead.

However, Norris responded with a strong run of form and consistently out-scored Piastri across the following rounds before taking hold of the title lead after the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Norris headed into the finale with a 12-point advantage over Red Bull's Max Verstappen, knowing that a podium finish of any kind would be enough for him to become world champion. 

Despite being overtaken by team-mate Piastri on the opening lap, Norris was able to fend off the charge of the fast Charles Leclerc to secure the third place he required to be crowned champion.

Norris finishes the season on 423 points to Verstappen, who won, on 421.

Norris is the first driver to win a championship for McLaren since Lewis Hamilton sealed his maiden title in 2008.

Norris is the 11th driver from the United Kingdom to be crowned world champion, and the eighth competitor to win with McLaren, including the likes of Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, and Ayrton Senna.