Lando Norris became the 11th British F1 champion this Sunday (7). The 26-year-old McLaren driver played cautiously during the Abu Dhabi GP, which closed the 2025 season, and preserved the advantage he had at the top of the World Championship. All he needed was a third place in the United Arab Emirates to clinch the title.
The result on the Yas Marina circuit leaves him with 423 points, against 421 for the Dutchman Max Verstappen, of Red Bull, and 410 for the Australian Oscar Piastri, his teammate at McLaren. Aware that getting on the podium would be enough for him, he works with social security and gets help from Piastri, who came second – if necessary, there will be a change of position. Verstappen won.
It was with relief that the now champion left his car. Open about the challenges he faced maintaining his mental health, he experienced ups and downs before realizing what he often calls “the big dream.” As he mentioned several times, he had difficulty dealing with his own mistakes.
“I put too much pressure on myself, because I want to do well. I want to do well, I want to be on pole, I want to win, I want to be perfect,” he declared in April, during the first part of the campaign which would bring him the title. “I think I need to be a little more accepting of the fact that I’m not going to be perfect. I make mistakes because I’m trying to be perfect.”
The errors have not been stopped. While battling with teammate Piastri for the top spot in the championship, Norris opened up an 88-point lead over Verstappen. The Dutchman, who was chasing his fifth consecutive title, made an impressive start after a poor start for Red Bull and finished the year just two points behind the champion.
But at the decisive moment, the Briton avoided repeating his mistakes and remained calm. He controlled his pace and was only momentarily apprehensive. When he overtook Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda, who was leading due to a pit stop, he had to take his car off the track. However, it was clear to the race management that it was the Japanese, in an irregular zigzag movement, who had forced the detour.
“I didn’t know that I was under investigation for this overtaking. But I was calm, I was enjoying the moment, I knew what I had done,” he said, still on the track, while drying his tears. “I haven’t cried in a long time. I said I wouldn’t cry… But I’m proud and happy for everyone I made cry today.”
Lando Norris has joined the list of British F1 champions, which already included Mike Hawthorn, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, John Surtees, Jackie Stewart, James Hunt, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. And it contributed to the triumph of McLaren, a traditional English team now owned by funds from Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
Constructors’ World Champion for the tenth time, the team is now only behind Italian Ferrari, which has 16 titles. Victory was easily assured with six rounds remaining, but problems in the latter part of the season put the World Drivers’ Championship result in jeopardy.
At the penultimate race, in Las Vegas, Norris and Piastri were disqualified due to irregular wear on the floor of their cars. The door opened for Verstappen, ultimately closed in Abu Dhabi. Once the race was over, Piastri and Verstappen went to the champion’s car to congratulate him.
This race marked the end of the first season for Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto, who celebrated his 21st birthday and had some good moments. With 19 points, he occupies 19th place. In Abu Dhabi, he crossed the finish line in 12th place and gained a place thanks to a penalty imposed on Briton Oliver Bearman, Haas – he nevertheless remained outside the points zone.
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