Lando Norris wins F1 2025 title with third place in Abu Dhabi despite Verstappen victory

Lando Norris, McLaren driver, won the 2025 Fórmula 1 world title by finishing third in the Grande Prêmio of The race, which started at 5pm local time for Emirados Árabes Unidos, saw Max Verstappen, of Red Bull, win the race, but the Brit secured the championship by a two-point margin over the Dutchman. Oscar Piastri, Norris’s teammate at McLaren, completed the track in second and took third place in the final classification of the year.

The decision came after a season marked by intense duels between the three main competitors, with Norris leading since mid-year. Verstappen, who was looking for his fifth consecutive title, scored 25 points for the victory, but was unable to overcome the advantage accumulated by his rival. Piastri, who also dreamed of the trophy, would need an unlikely combination of results to overtake his teammate.

Gabriel Bortoleto, the Brazilian debutant for Sauber, ended his first season in the category with a 12th place overall, accumulating 19 points throughout the year. In the Abu Dhabi GP, he started seventh and showed competitive pace in the opening laps.

The race highlighted the efficiency of McLaren, who won the constructors’ title with 412 points, beating Red Bull by 18. Norris, in his seventh season in F1, celebrated his first personal championship, becoming the 115th winner in the history of the category.

Electrifying start sets the course for the race

The start in Yas Marina brought decisive movements in the first lap. Oscar Piastri, opting for hard tires, surprised by overtaking Lando Norris on the outside in turn 9, taking second place behind Verstappen.

Norris, who only needed a podium to seal the title, remained calm and avoided unnecessary risks. Charles Leclerc, from Ferrari, put pressure on the Brit in the initial meters, getting to just a second away.

McLaren’s initial strategy prioritized tire conservation for the leaders. Verstappen, starting from pole, controlled the pace without any major threats.

Pit stop strategies change the field

Verstappen made a clean stop on lap 17, switching to medium tires and maintaining the lead. Piastri, benefiting from the initial choice of more resistant compounds, temporarily took the lead after the Dutchman pitted.

Norris stopped one lap later and faced traffic upon returning to the track, needing bold overtaking to regain positions. Ele overcame Lance Stroll and Liam Lawson in a double maneuver that lasted seconds.

Red Bull responded with a second stop for Verstappen on lap 35, ensuring fresh tires for the end. McLaren followed the same pattern for its drivers, avoiding significant losses.

• Norris avoided collisions in tight braking zones.
• Piastri gained time in high-speed sectors.
• Leclerc pressed, but lacked the pace to overtake.

Challenges of Bortoleto expose limits of Sauber

Gabriel Bortoleto started the weekend with optimism by securing seventh place on the grid. Sua Sauber showed balance on the straights of Yas Marina during free practice.

Halfway through the race, however, aerodynamic problems emerged, causing instability at speeds above 300 km/h. The car began to bounce on the straights, forcing the Brazilian to reduce his pace to maintain control.

He lost positions to Esteban Ocon, Lewis Hamilton, Ollie Bearman, Lance Stroll and Nico Hulkenberg in the last 20 laps. The team confirmed via radio that it was a failure in downforce components, to be analyzed post-race.

Bortoleto crossed the line in 12th, marking a positive end to the season despite the adversity. Sua campaign included five top-10s, highlighted by eighth place in the Brasil GP.

Fierce dispute between teammates at McLaren

Piastri put pressure on Norris in the final laps, but respected team orders so as not to compromise the Briton’s title. The gap between the two ended in less than two seconds.

Norris managed tire wear precisely, avoiding mistakes that could have opened up gaps for Leclerc in fourth. Sua consistency throughout the year yielded eight wins and 18 podiums.

Verstappen, isolated at the front, completed 58 laps without serious incidents. Sua victory brought the total number of victories in 2025 to eight, equaling Norris in this statistic.

Ferrari of Leclerc secured valuable points with fourth place, helping the team in the fight for runner-up in the constructors’ championship.

Incidents and punishments mark the middle of the race

An investigation by the race direction stirred up the field on lap 25. Yuki Tsunoda, Verstappen’s teammate on Red Bull, defended his position against

Both were called to testify, but only Tsunoda received a five-second punishment for a reckless maneuver. Norris avoided penalty after image review.

The incident did not change the general order, but highlighted the tension of the final stage. Outras minor complaints, such as light touching between midfielders, were dismissed.

The race continued without safety car interruptions, favoring clean pit strategies.

Technical changes mark goodbye to the current regulation

The Abu Dhabi GP represented the end of the 2025 cars, with active aerodynamics and 1.6 liter hybrid engines. Problemas and Bortoleto were recurrent under these rules, affecting 15% of races.

In 2026, F1 will introduce lighter chassis and sustainable propulsion, with higher efficiency batteries. Teams tested prototypes in private sessions in the fall.

The transition promises more unpredictable races, with overtaking made easier by improved DRS. McLaren and Red Bull are leading the developments, according to FIA reports.

Norris expressed optimism with the news, predicting greater balance on the grid.

Constructors’ performance consolidates McLaren’s dominance

McLaren scored 70 points in Abu Dhabi, extending its lead in Mundial from Equipes to 412. Piastri and Norris contributed consistent podiums in 20 of the 24 stages.

Red Bull got 394 points, thanks to Verstappen’s victory and Tsunoda’s ninth place. Ferrari closed third with 380, driven by Leclerc and Hamilton.

Mercedes secured fourth with 320 points, while Sauber, from Bortoleto, finished eighth with 45. The classification reflects advances in aerodynamics and reliability.

• McLaren: 8 victories in the year.
• Red Bull: 7 wins, focus on consistency.
• Ferrari: Melhorias on hybrid engines.

Bortoleto’s debut season brings valuable lessons

Bortoleto, 20, adapted quickly to F1 after winning the F2 title in 2024. Seus 19 points came from strategic races, such as the Itália GP.

Sauber plans upgrades for 2026, targeting regular top-10. The Brazilian praised the Swiss team’s support in post-race interviews.

His performance in Abu Dhabi reinforces the talent of young South American talent. Ele aims for the podium in 2026 with the technical transition.

The debut marks the eighth Brazilian in F1 since Felipe Massa, maintaining tradition.

Season finales remember iconic moments

Abu Dhabi has already hosted historic decisions, such as the title of Lewis Hamilton in 2020. The 5.2 km track favors two-stop strategies, as seen in 2025.

Norris joins a list of precocious champions, at 25 years old. Sua victory breaks the streak of Verstappen, who dominated from 2021 to 2024.

F1 registers 24 GPs in 2025, with the calendar expanded to Ásia and Américas. Global Audiências surpassed 1.5 billion viewers.

The Norris trophy symbolizes the McLaren era reborn under Zak Brown.