Lando Norris Finishes In P3 In Abu Dhabi To Win F1 World Title

 

Picture source: GMA Network 

Lando Norris has become the new F1 champion after finishing third at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, scoring enough points (423) needed to clinch the trophy, as McLaren ended a 17-year drought of the F1 World Title.

It was a tense atmosphere at Yas Marina as  Norris led the F1 drivers' standings by 12 points, clear of the nearest rival, Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who was also the defending title champion. Last year, Norris won at the circuit and was also defending the race he won the year before. 

Max won the race for his eighth grand prix victory of the year, but with 25 points, he was two points behind Norris, totaling 421 points. Oscar Piastri finished in P2 while Norris finished in P3. However, the Briton needed to score at least a podium point to win the title. 

Last weekend, McLaren missed the chance of sealing a comfortable year-ending race for Norris in Qatar, where the reigning champion finished fourth, setting him back tremendously and closing the gap between him and Verstappen to 12 points. 

Verstappen is a four-time F1 World champion and was on the quest for his fifth to surpass former champions such as Sebastian Vettel and Alain Prost. He won his maiden title in 2021, outpacing Lewis Hamilton in a dramatic final in Abu Dhabi. 

McLaren won their previous F1 World title in 2008 with Lewis Hamilton, who clinched his maiden F1 title. The victory made Norris the eleventh British F1 driver ever to lift the trophy and the first since Hamilton. 

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Top 10 

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 

3. Lando Norris (McLaren) 

4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 

5. George Russell (Mercedes) 

6. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 

7. Esteban Ocon (Haas) 

8. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 

9. Nico Hulkemburg (Kick Sauber)

10. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

Driver Standing 2025

1. Lando Norris (McLaren) 423

2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 421 

3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 410 

4. George Russell (Mercedes) 319

5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 242

6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 156

7. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 150

8. Alexander Labon (William) 73 

9. Carlos Sainz (William) 64

10. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 56