F1 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix results: Norris crowned Champion by two points

Lando Norris was crowned the 2025 Formula 1 World Champion after finishing third in the season finale at Abu Dhabi. 

In a title decider that shredded the nerves of every onlooker, the Brit did enough to secure his maiden title, beating race-winner Max Verstappen to the crown by just two points.

Verstappen did everything required of him, delivering a flawless drive to victory, while Norris survived an opening-lap overtake from his team-mate, a mid-race stewards' investigation, and a battle through the pack to secure the points he needed.

As the fireworks erupted over Yas Marina, a new chapter in F1’s history was written. Norris became the latest British World Champion, sealing McLaren’s first Drivers’ title since 2008.

Full summary of the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix results

• Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
• Second place: Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
• Third place: Lando Norris (McLaren) – 2025 World Champion
• George Russell: Fifth in a lonely race for Mercedes
• Lewis Hamilton: Eighth after recovering from P16
• Ollie Bearman: 12th after rollercoaster race

2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix results

Norris holds his nerve

Lando Norris arrived in Abu Dhabi knowing a podium would be enough, but the 58 laps that followed were anything but simple. Starting second, he immediately lost out to team-mate Oscar Piastri, who swept around the outside of Turn 9 on the opening lap, relegating the title favourite to third. As it stood, it would still be enough to take the title. 

In the first stint, Norris dropped away from the leaders and McLaren pulled the trigger on Lap 17, switching him to hard tyres. Rejoining in ninth, the spotlight was now on Lando as he carved through the field. 

His moves were bold and decisive; exactly what was required to ensure he took the title. He wasted no time dispatching Kimi Antonelli and Carlos Sainz on Lap 18, then passed both Lance Stroll and Liam Lawson in one spectacular move on Lap 19. 

Then came the big challenge. On Lap 23, Norris was faced with overtaking title rival Verstappen’s team-mate Yuki Tsunoda. The Red Bull Driver defended hard, but Lando got the job done. However, in doing so, he ran all four wheels off the track. The incident was placed under investigation before the stewards placed the blame with Yuki for excessive weaving.

Norris pitted for a second time on Lap 40 to cover off the threat from Charles Leclerc, holding off his advances in the final stint to secure a third-place finish. That was all he needed to become World Champion, the margin over Verstappen just two points in the final reckoning.

Another win in a remarkable comeback for Verstappen 

Max Verstappen was Lando’s biggest threat for the title coming into Abu Dhabi, and in the final weekend of the season, he did everything in his power to snatch it from under Norris’ nose. Launching from pole, he covered Norris instantly at the start and controlled the pace from the front.

Despite losing the lead during the pit cycle to an offset Piastri, Verstappen remained calm. He hunted down the McLaren, making the decisive move for the lead on Lap 41. From there, he managed the gap to the flag to claim his eighth win of the season – more than either McLaren driver.

Ultimately, it wasn't quite enough. Verstappen’s dominance on the night brought him agonizingly close, but he ended the year as runner-up, missing out on a fifth straight title by just two points.

The stars fail to align for Piastri 

Oscar Piastri needed a lot of things to fall his way in Abu Dhabi, and that bad luck for his rivals never materialised. Still, the Australian capped off an impressive third season with a strong second place. 

Opting for an alternate strategy starting on hard tyres – while his rivals chose mediums – Piastri ensured Verstappen’s victory wasn’t assured, at least in the early phases. 

His bold move around the outside of Norris on Lap 1 made his intentions known early on, but from then on, he failed to make any kind of impression on Verstappen. 

Piastri inherited the lead when Verstappen pitted on Lap 24 and stayed out deep into the race on his Hard tyres. Although he was eventually passed by the Red Bull on Lap 41, he denied the Dutchman a clear run to victory.

Piastri finally pitted on Lap 42 for Mediums and held second comfortably until the flag. In the final reckoning, he was 13 points shy of the title and third in the standings behind Norris and Verstappen.

An anonymous race for Russell 

George Russell concluded his season with a solitary drive to fifth. After qualifying fourth, a poor getaway saw him suffer heavy wheelspin, dropping him to sixth.

He quickly recovered, passing Fernando Alonso at the chicane on Lap 4, but found himself isolated after his stop for Hards on Lap 15. 

A brief battle with Charles Leclerc enlivened his second stint, but Russell ultimately lacked the pace to challenge the Ferrari or the leaders. He crossed the line 20 seconds adrift of Leclerc, but well clear of the midfield pack.

Hamilton fights back to close first Ferrari season

Lewis Hamilton’s first season in scarlet ended with yet another recovery drive. Starting a disappointing 16th, the seven-time champion was on the offensive immediately, rising to 14th on Lap 1.

An early stop on Lap 9 to ditch the Soft tyres for Hards allowed Hamilton to undercut a significant portion of the midfield. By Lap 22, he had climbed to ninth. A second stop on Lap 32 dropped him back down the order, but he used his Medium tyres to slice through the field in the closing stages.

He snatched eighth from Ollie Bearman on Lap 46, and with it salvaged four points from a difficult weekend to end the year.

Bearman misses out on points

Ollie Bearman ended his rookie campaign by finishing just outside the points. Starting 11th, the Haas driver fended off the early advances of Hamilton on Lap 4 to successfully hold position.

Despite losing out in the pit stops and dropping to 15th, Bearman fought his way back up the order. He may have finished 12th in Abu Dhabi, but Bearman’s first full season in F1 saw him score points in 10 races en route to 13th in the standings.  

2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – key takeaways

• Lando Norris finishes third to win the 2025 Drivers' World Championship by two points.
• Max Verstappen wins the race but fails to secure a fifth consecutive title.
• Oscar Piastri takes second, missing out on the title.
• George Russell takes fifth for Mercedes.
• Lewis Hamilton recovers from P16 to P8 to end the year.
• Ollie Bearman finishes 12th. 

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