Abu Dhabi offers thrills in a sport governed by stopwatches and mathematics. Lando Norris makes no mistakes and is world champion, number 35 in history, the eleventh Briton. A rather cold driver who knew how to take advantage of the speed of the best … car of 2025, the Mercedes-powered McLaren. Thanks to a calculator, he finished third in Abu Dhabi in a race won by Max Verstappen, the relentless Dutchman, runner-up by just two points. Fernando Alonso finished sixth in a great race.
Verstappen lacked nothing, an overtake, a detail to be champion for the fifth time. Historic return for the Dutchman, winner in Abu Dhabi as the canons have it. Verstappen won, but Norris did not sufferequipped with composure to temper all racing situations and finish strong, tearful and excited.
The race starts slowly, as expected because Verstappen, who starts well and makes no mistakes, has an interest in the peloton tightening and any driver harassing Norris and Piastri. It is a strategy that requires others and the Dutchman’s own performance, while Norris is interested in the opposite: speed and separation from the group.
At McLaren, what happens in all the teams that win or have a lead car. Sparks fly between its pilots. This is also happening in Abu Dhabi, where Oscar Piastri risks and compromises the options of his partner and leader Lando Norris. He attacks him from the outside in the second round, he goes parallel, Norris doesn’t want any trouble and gives way to the Australian.
The race is long, 58 turns, and Norris knows it. He has been using the calculator for several Grand Prix races, he doesn’t want any problems, he is interested in clean air on his face and in his car, no fights.
Without risking
The Briton does not get angry with third position, one step from the precipice, if he is fourth he does not win the title, and he has Leclerc with good pace less than a second behind and pulling the DRS for many laps.
Verstappen commands without escaping, as expected, from the one who has to risk the most, and Piastri plays on the rebound of what can happen. All attention is on Norris, whose judicious maneuvers give meaning to his option for the title. Stopping on the 17th lap, goodbye to the yellow tires. exits with trafficbut he resolves it with authority. Antonelli, Sainz, Stroll and Lawson are not opposed.
Yes, Tsunoda, Verstappen’s recently fired Red Bull teammate, does. “Leave it to me” said. The Japanese moves the car, blocks Norris and forces him to ziga-zag to overtake him off the track. Tensile moment, the commissioners investigate the action. Climax laps at McLaren. But the resolution is fair: a five-second penalty for Tsunoda for forcing a rival off the track, and no punishment for Norris.
McLaren strategists, who have failed in recent races, support Norris’ conservative nature with precise decisions from the garage. For the two-time British driver, there are always new wheels to secure, while leader Verstappen sees his chances of a fifth title disappear.
Amidst this struggle, Fernando Alonso’s struggle in the top positions is commendable, fifth, sixth or seventh, the Spaniard has the pace with the Aston Martin to fight for points. Carlos Sainz is much further away, outside the top ten even if he gets closer in the final straight.
“Does Charles catch it or not?” » asks Verstappen on the radio. But Leclerc, fourth, has the same pace as Norris, third. Everything will enthrone the British.
The end of the race is a placid version of the World Cup, unlike the other frenetic results of 2007. (Räikkönen against Alonso and Hamilton), 2008 (Hamilton in the last corner against Massa), 2010 (Vettel before Ferrari’s mistake with Alonso), 2021 (Verstappen against Hamilton in the last lap). Verstappebn wins, but Norris does not suffer, third in Abu Dhabi and world champion.
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