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12 Dec 2025 10:22
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  •   Home > News > Motoring

    F1 Abu Dhabi: Lando Norris wins world title, Max Verstappen wins Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri second

    Max Verstappen has won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ahead of Oscar Piastri, but Lando Norris finishes third to claim the world title.


    Lando Norris has won the Formula 1 world title, finishing third behind Max Verstappen and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in a nerve-ridden season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

    Verstappen claimed his eighth race win of the year, leading from pole to finish just two championship points away from a fifth consecutive world title.

    But in order for Verstappen to win the championship he needed Norris to finish outside the podium places.

    That was out of his control, but he was assisted by Australian Piastri, who flew past Norris on the opening lap with a daring overtake around the outside of turn nine.

    Piastri needed a win himself to stand any chance of claiming the title and led for long periods due to going with a one-stop strategy when the other leaders went for a two-stop.

    It was a brave strategy but ultimately did not come off, Verstappen re-taking the lead in the pits, relegating Piastri to second.

    But Norris was able to do enough to hold on to the third place finish he needed to claim his maiden world title victory.

    "It feels amazing, I now know what Max [Verstappen] feels like, I want to congratulate Max and Oscar [Piastri], my two biggest competitors the whole season," a tearful Norris said at the finish.

    "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."

    It was not without some drama though, with the Briton placed under investigation for going off track to overtake Verstappen's Red Bull teammate Yuki Tsunoda in the middle laps of the race.

    However, it was Tsunoda who was penalised for dangerously moving under breaking and forcing the McLaren off track.

    Norris also had to battle with the pacy Ferrari of Charles Leclerc for third place.

    But despite those challenges, the Briton held on to finish on the podium and earn the biggest prize in motorsport.

    Norris became Britain's 11th Formula 1 world champion, ended the season with 423 points to Verstappen's 421 and Piastri's 410.

    Piastri was one of the first drivers to celebrate with Norris, showing his class in congratulating his teammate as soon as he got out of the car.

    "He is a future world champion," McLaren boss Zak Brown said of Piastri..

    "Both our guys won seven races, drove brilliantly, they supported each other.

    "It's a cruel sport how some things don't go your way when they're out of your control, but I'm excited to go racing with him."

    McLaren, who secured the constructors' championship in October for the second year in a row, won both titles in the same season for the first time since 1998.

    Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.

    [blog]

    ABC




    © 2025 ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved

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