Lando Norris dethrones Max Verstappen as F1 champion

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Lando Norris is on top of the world.

Norris finished in third place at Formula 1’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday night, but managed to do enough to hang on to the Drivers’ World Championship. He finished two points ahead of Max Verstappen and 13 points ahead of fellow McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.

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McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain celebrates after becoming a world champion after the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Norris was in tears as he credited his family and his McLaren team on helping him get through a "long journey."

"It feels amazing. I now know what Max feels like a little bit," Norris said. "… I’ve enjoyed it. It’s been a long year, but we did it. I’m so proud of everyone."

He’s the 35th driver to win an F1 World Championship. The standings got real tight down the end of the season. Norris won the first race of the season, but Piastri captured four wins in the next five races. Verstappen, then, won his second race before Norris did.

Norris and Piastri would do most of the winning in the middle of the season before Verstappen ended his eight-race drought without being on top of the podium. The Red Bull driver would heat up following his victory at the Italian Grand Prix.

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain reacts after becoming a world champion after the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.  (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

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Verstappen won six of