At the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lando Norris achieved the pinnacle of his Formula 1 career: his first world championship. The defining moment came as he crossed the finish line in third place — just enough to secure the title — and, overwhelmed with emotion, he ran into the arms of his parents, celebrating with his family and the McLaren squad.
But beyond that touching scene, the finale in Abu Dhabi carried extra layers of drama: a last-lap investigation by the governing body, the FIA, into a controversial overtake involving Norris and Yuki Tsunoda threatened to complicate the title — and yet ultimately confirmed Norris’s championship.
The Race and the Title
Heading into the final round at Yas Marina, Norris only needed one thing: a spot on the podium. He delivered exactly that, finishing third — a result sufficient to crown him world champion. While the race itself was won by Max Verstappen, the two-point margin between them in the standings meant Norris emerged the victor in the championship battle.
When he did cross the line, the raw emotion was obvious. Norris fought back tears, embracing his parents in a flood of joy, relief, and disbelief — a perfect ending to a long pursuit of a dream.
The Controversial Over-Take and Investigation
However, Norris’s achievement came with tension. During the race, he and Tsunoda were involved in a contentious defensive move by the Japanese driver — an aggressive attempt to hold off Norris as he battled for position. The stewards decided to investigate the move, given how critical the final result was to the championship outcome.
Tsunoda’s defence appeared irregular: as Norris tried to overtake, he was pushed off the track — a highly risky manoeuvre under such conditions. That triggered the inquiry.
As fans held their breath, the stewards delivered their verdict: Norris was cleared of wrongdoing, but Tsunoda was penalized — a development that effectively removed any shadow from Norris’s success and cemented his place atop the drivers’ standings.
A Historic Win
With this result, Norris joined the exclusive list of Formula 1 world champions — becoming the 35th different driver to win the title since the sport began awarding championships.
He also became the UK’s 11th F1 champion, and for McLaren, it was their first drivers’ championship since Lewis Hamilton did it for them back in 2008.
Given the very narrow margin — just two points — between him and Verstappen at the end, the victory was razor-thin, making the championship outcome one of the closest in recent history.
Reflections and Questions: Is He the “Weakest” Champion?
Despite the jubilation, some voices have already started debating the merit of this particular title. Critics ask whether this was truly a “champion’s season” for Norris, or more a case of being in the right place at the right time. The article notes that while he outlasted formidable foes — including Verstappen and his own McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri — some argue that Norris’s performance over the season was not always dominant, raising questions about his credentials as a worthy champion.
Still, none of that changes the fact that Norris seized the opportunity when it mattered most, delivered under pressure, and now stands as a world champion. The historic result has been etched into the F1 record books.
What It All Means
This championship victory for Norris — especially under these dramatic circumstances — highlights several truths about motorsport (and success more generally): it isn’t always the driver with the most dominant form, or perhaps even the cleanest season, who wins. Sometimes, it’s the one who holds their nerve when it really counts. The final-race drama, the investigation, the near-penalty — all serve as reminders of how thin the line can be between failure and glory.
For Norris, this result vindicates years of hard work; for McLaren, it restores a legacy that hasn’t seen a champion in nearly two decades; and for F1, it signals a possibly new chapter in which the balance of power may shift. Whether critics will continue to question the “worthiness” of the title seems secondary to the fact that Norris, at this moment, is officially a world champion — and he did it under real pressure.
