Formula 1 News: A New Champion Is Born

The F1 racing season has come to a dramatic end in Abu Dhabi this afternoon. The race had much jeopardy lying on it, with Max Verstappen in pole position going into the race, Lando Norris in second, and Oscar Piastri in third position. At the starting line, Norris’s objective was clear.

He only had to bag a top-three finish to secure the World Driver’s Championship. He managed just this, staving off his opponents enough to become the first British man to win the F1 championship since Lewis Hamilton won in 2020.

2025 F1 World Drivers Champion and Third placed Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren celebrates on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 07, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images for McLaren)

The race was one to watch for fans of Formula 1. Norris only held a marginal lead going into this final race, and it really did come down to it all on the day. Ending with 423 points, Norris only beat Verstappen’s 421 total, meaning the margins for winning were extremely tight. Despite it being close in the end, bookmakers all had Norris odds on to secure the prize. Here, you can see details of Norris sitting at 1/3 and 2/7 odds, making him the clear favorite.

This win marks a huge moment for both Norris’s career and also for McLaren, who can celebrate their first championship driver since Hamilton won it with them in 2008. Norris becomes only the 11th British driver to get his hands on the Formula 1 crown and ends Verstappen’s dominance in the last 4 years, where he won more than 54% of the races he competed in.

While Norris had to prove himself on the day, it was his consistency and resilience throughout the entire season that garnered the praise and ultimately landed him the title, redefining the landscape of modern Formula 1 racing once again with his achievement.

Norris knew going into the race at the Yas Marina Circuit that it was his title to lose. He just needed to hold his nerve. A top-three finish guarantees him the title. Norris contended with Piastri taking second place off him in the opening lap, pressure after a pitstop, challenges from those behind him, including Charles Leclerc, and a wheel-to-wheel with a Red Bull car. But he held his nerve, and despite Verstappen’s pole finish, Norris sealed the victory.

Fans of Formula 1 will welcome Norris’ victory. It carves the championship right open again after Verstappen’s recent dominance in a shift that reshapes how the whole sport looks. This may well be the rise of a whole new generation and certainly gives McLaren hope for the future as they now have 8 winning drivers in their name. Norris has shown that determination and youthful energy can take you the full way as long as you back it up with hard-fought fought consistent performances.

For many British Formula 1 fans, this win restores faith in the system and certainly offers a sense of pride in home-grown success once again. For McLaren, this title vindicates their controversial intervention during the season and their longer-term strategy and rebuilding process they have been committed to over the last number of years.

But perhaps the real winner is the global Formula 1 fans who were treated to a racing spectacle this Sunday in Abu Dhabi. The 2025 finale will be remembered for its thrill and jeopardy, coming as a stiff reminder to fans everywhere that the momentum can shift from driver to driver until the drivers speed over the finish lines. The high exhilaration is plain to see; now, fans just need to wait a small while before the 2026 season commences.

To crystallize Verstappen’s dominance amid the controversy, consider these irrefutable stats from the 2025 season:
– Most Wins: 8 by Verstappen
– Most Poles: 8 by Verstappen
– Most Driver of the Days: 8 by Verstappen
– Most Laps Led: 454 by Verstappen
– Most Consecutive Podiums: 10 by Verstappen
– Biggest Comeback in F1 History: From a 104-point deficit to a 2-point runner-up finish
– Fastest Lap in F1 History: Set by Verstappen at Monza in Qualifying and in the race
– Fastest Race in F1 History: Monza, won by Verstappen
– Power Rankings: Verstappen has been ranked as the best driver of the 2025 season based on the overall Aramco Power Rankings.

Without McLaren’s team orders at Monza allowing Norris past Piastri, the standings would have read:
Max (421 points) – his 5th straight title;
Lando (420 points)
Oscar (413 points).