‘Earned and unforgettable’: Lando Norris clinches 1st F1 championship title in Abu Dhabi

The 2025 Formula 1 season came down to a dramatic finale on Dec. 7 in Abu Dhabi, where Lando Norris claimed his first World Championship.

By finishing third in the Grand Prix, he edged past Max Verstappen and his own McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri to secure the title by just two points. The victory ended Verstappen’s four-year championship streak and gave McLaren its first drivers’ championship since 2008.

The season began with excitement and uncertainty. McLaren looked strong in pre-season testing, and many expected Norris and Piastri to challenge for the championship. Verstappen was again a favourite, his Red Bull pace seemingly unmatched. I, like many fans, had been rooting for him. After dominating the first races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, it looked like he might make history yet again. But F1 rarely follows a script.

Norris’s early season was inconsistent. Mechanical failures, a few poor qualifying sessions, and a race-ending incident at the Dutch Grand Prix left him trailing in points.

At the same time, Verstappen appeared untouchable, racking up wins while McLaren struggled to find consistency. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, in his first full season with Ferrari, had moments of brilliance but ultimately could not match the top three consistently. Hamilton’s early podiums gave Ferrari fans hope, but strategic errors and tire mismanagement at several key tracks left the team chasing results rather than leading them.

The mid-season period became a turning point. After Norris and Piastri collided in Montreal, costing McLaren crucial points, the British driver regrouped. Wins in Mexico, Brazil, and other pivotal races demonstrated that his pace, composure, and racecraft had matured. Each victory shrank the gap to Verstappen, and slowly, the championship became a three-way battle between McLaren, Red Bull, and Piastri.

Verstappen’s dominance had moments of fragility, including colliding with Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes in Austria and a misjudged tire strategy in Qatar. These small cracks allowed Norris to stay within striking distance.

Despite the roller-coaster, Verstappen remained my favourite to win. The talent, determination, and sheer excitement he brought to every lap made him the driver I wanted to see on the top step. But F1 is as much about endurance and strategy as it is about speed. Norris’s ability to consistently finish races, avoid mistakes, and maximize points proved decisive.

The Abu Dhabi finale was tense. Piastri briefly overtook Norris at the start, while Verstappen led into the first corner. Every lap became a strategic chess match, and Norris maintained his composure, holding his position and fending off late attacks.

Verstappen won the race, but Norris’s season-long resilience and calculated approach earned him the championship. Hamilton finished the race in the mid-pack, reflecting Ferrari’s struggles to maintain pace across a season that was never entirely smooth for them.

Norris’s title is a testament to the unpredictable nature of F1. While raw speed matters, consistency, mental strength, and strategic intelligence can outweigh a faster car. The McLaren driver’s journey from early-season setbacks to a historic championship is a reminder that persistence and focus often define a season more than dominance in the opening rounds.

For fans, the 2025 season offered thrills, heartbreak, and unexpected twists. Watching Norris celebrate, it was clear this championship was not just a personal triumph but a turning point for McLaren.

While part of me had wanted Verstappen to win again, the drama and storylines of the season made Norris’s victory feel earned and unforgettable. Meanwhile, Hamilton’s challenges with Ferrari underscored that even legends face moments of struggle when adapting to a new environment and machinery.

Ultimately, the season proved why Formula 1 is one of the most compelling sports in the world. From Norris’s breakthrough to Verstappen’s near miss and Hamilton’s adaptation story, 2025 delivered a championship full of narratives, skill, and tension that fans will remember for years to come.