Lando Norris world champion glory as Yuki Tsunoda punished – Abu Dhabi GP Winners and Losers

The lights shone bright at the Yas Marina Circuit, as the 2025 F1 drivers' title was decided. 

Max Verstappen won his eighth grand prix of the season, but it was all eyes on Lando Norris who finished in third to become world champion. 

Unlike in Qatar, McLaren aced its strategy in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, mixing the strategy between Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri who finished in second.

So, who has made the RacingNews365 list of winners and losers for the 2025 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?

Winner - Lando Norris

Where else to start other than with the new F1 world champion. Norris qualified in second but fell behind Piastri on the opening lap, something which was planned by McLaren. 

By moving Piastri into second behind Verstappen, it removed the Dutchman's option to attempt to hold the pack up, given he could not afford to fall behind Piastri. 

Norris came under some early pressure from Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, but handled his nerves brilliantly to finish in a comfortable third. 

In doing so, he secured the world title by two points over Verstappen, with Norris now having the option to run the #1 in 2026 when the new power unit regulations will be introduced. Nerves handled, and title won. Norris is the 2025 F1 world champion.

Loser - Yuki Tsunoda

Red Bull needed Yuki Tsunoda more than ever, and he once again failed to deliver. It was Verstappen against two McLarens, having Tsunoda's support would have been massive. 

Following Norris' first pit stop, he fell behind Tsunoda who was yet to stop, with Red Bull having hoped the Japanese driver could hold him up. 

Tsunoda received a message from Red Bull to do what he could to keep Norris behind, to which he asked to be left to it. 

What happened was the opposite Red Bull wanted, as Tsunoda opted against holding Norris up in the slow-speed final sector but instead along the main straight. 

With DRS, Norris overtook Tsunoda, who forced the Briton off the circuit and received a five-second time penalty. It highlighted the worth of Sergio Perez in 2021, and why Red Bull has perhaps dropped Tsunoda from a race seat.

Winner - Max Verstappen

Verstappen had the perfect weekend in Abu Dhabi, but it was not enough to become a record-equalling five-time world champion. 

The four-time world champion came alive in qualifying to clinch a crushing pole position, before cruising into the distance in the race. 

He ended 2025 with the most race wins and, ultimately, did everything he could do in pursuit of the title. 

Unfortunately, it was just too big a points deficit going into the race, with Norris securing the championship by two points. Verstappen might have lost the title, but he was a winner in the grand prix itself.

Loser - Kimi Antonelli

After a run of great results, it was a disappointing final weekend of the season for Kimi Antonelli, who ended his rookie campaign with a bad result. 

The Mercedes driver looked uncompetitive throughout the weekend in Yas Marina, resulting in him being eliminated in the second part of qualifying. 

Unfortunately, progress also proved difficult for the young Italian to make, with him finishing in 15th and 84 seconds adrift of race winner Verstappen. 

In what has been a very mixed rookie campaign glittered with some incredible results, Abu Dhabi highlighted that there remains a real inconsistency to Antonelli's results with much still to be learned.

Winner - Charles Leclerc

Fourth is not what Ferrari nor Charles Leclerc would have wanted, but based on the season the Scuderia has had it was an excellent result. 

Leclerc qualified in fifth and made a strong start to overtake George Russell, before going on to threaten Norris for third across several laps in the opening phase of the race.

His Ferrari came alive in the grand prix and at least ensured that a challenging year was ended with a positive result. 

Amongst all of the Maranello-based outfit's setbacks in 2025, Leclerc has consistently delivered strong races, with the season finale being another to add to the list.

Loser - Alpine

On the topic of difficult seasons, 2025 was the most difficult of them all for Alpine. It could no better in Abu Dhabi. 

Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto qualified on the last row on the grid, but also finished the race in 19th and 20th. 

It cemented a year to forget for the Enstone-based outfit who claimed a distant last in the constructors' championship.

The new regulations does represent a light at the end of the tunnel, although this year has heightened the pressure on its next car being a success.