Briton Norris wins his first F1 title in Abu Dhabi

By Nile Post Editor | Sunday, December 7, 2025
Briton Norris wins his first F1 title in Abu Dhabi
Lando Norris is the 11th Briton to win the F1 drivers' championship

McLaren's Lando Norris won his first Formula 1 drivers' championship by finishing third in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The 26-year-old won the title by two points from Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who won the race to take his eighth victory of the year, one more than the Briton and his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri.

McLaren were always in control of a race packed with tension even though Verstappen was on course for victory from the first lap, because Piastri finished second and was in a position to help Norris if needed.

Norris becomes the 11th British F1 world champion at the end of his seventh season in F1, a year that he started slowly but in which he came on strong in the second half of the year.

And it is McLaren's first drivers' and constructors' title double since 1998.

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"I've not cried in a while and I didn't think I would cry but I did," said a jubilant Norris.

"I mean, it feels amazing, I now know what Max feels like. I want to congratulate Max and Oscar, my two biggest competitors the whole season.

"It's been a pleasure to race against both of them and an honour, I've learned a lot from both of them as well.

"I've enjoyed it and it has been a long year but we did it and I'm so proud of everyone."

While the McLaren has been the fastest car on balance this season, Norris' championship will be given added credibility by the fact that he won it in the face of a tough challenge from Verstappen, who is widely acknowledged as the finest driver of his generation.

Norris cried in his car on the slowing-down lap as he accepted the congratulations of his team and thanked them and his family for getting him into a place to fulfil his lifetime ambition.

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