Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Max Verstappen claimed victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but it was Lando Norris who took the spoils that mattered most - his first Formula 1 World Championship. The season finale delivered the sport's first three-way title decider since 2010, with Norris, Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri all mathematically in contention heading into the race. Norris entered the weekend with a crucial 12-point advantage over Verstappen, knowing that a third-place finish would be enough to seal the championship regardless of where his rivals finished.

Qualifying set the stage for a tense showdown as Verstappen secured pole position with a lap of 1:22.207, edging Norris by just 0.201 seconds with Piastri a further 0.029 seconds adrift in third. The grid positions proved crucial for the championship outcome, as Verstappen's pole gave him control of the race while Norris had the security of starting ahead of his main rivals bar one.

When the lights went out, Verstappen made a clean getaway from pole while Norris opted for a conservative approach, prioritizing championship points over race victory. The McLaren driver quickly ceded second place to teammate Piastri, who had started on the hard compound tyres for a long opening stint, and settled into the third position that would deliver him the title. An early challenge from Ferrari's Charles Leclerc briefly threatened Norris's podium position, but the Briton had the pace in hand to maintain his crucial third place.

At the front, Verstappen was imperious, controlling the race from start to finish to claim his third consecutive victory and eighth win of the season - one more than both Norris and Piastri managed individually. Piastri held second throughout, unable to challenge his Red Bull rival despite running the medium compound tyres in the latter stages, finishing approximately 15-18 seconds behind the Dutchman. The Australian set the fastest lap of the race with a 1:26.765 on lap 44, showcasing McLaren's strong pace even if it couldn't translate into victory.

Behind the podium positions, Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari, seven seconds behind Norris, while George Russell brought his Mercedes home in fifth. The final points positions were rounded out by Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin in sixth, Esteban Ocon's impressive Haas in seventh, Lewis Hamilton in eighth for Ferrari, Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in ninth, and Lance Stroll claiming the final point for Aston Martin in tenth.

As Norris crossed the line in third, the radio erupted with celebrations from the McLaren pit wall. The 26-year-old became Britain's 11th Formula 1 World Champion and the first McLaren driver to claim the title since Lewis Hamilton in 2008. His two-point margin over Verstappen - the narrowest championship winning margin since 2021 - was a testament to the season-long battle between the two drivers. With McLaren having already secured the Constructors' Championship, the Woking team achieved their first title double since Mika Häkkinen and the team triumphed in 1998, ending a 17-year wait for drivers' championship glory.