As he crossed the finish line on 7th December, 2025, Lando Norris secured McLaren’s first World Driver’s Championship since 2008. This wrapped up a nail-biting season, which stayed tense until the final lap. Let’s dive, or perhaps drive, right in.
In the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, there was a clean first corner. Piastri overtook Norris for second place in the opening lap. Norris pitted before Piastri, climbing up to third by the time Verstappen came into the box. Verstappen soared to P2, leaving Piastri to lead the race with no pit-stops under his belt. The two McLaren teammates then both had their tyres changed, with Piastri coming out in second and Norris third. They held this order for the rest of the race. Despite Verstappen’s brilliant race pace, third place was enough for Norris to clinch the title. After 25 races, it came down to just a two point difference. Charles Leclerc, who was putting pressure on Norris throughout the race, finished fourth. This Grand Prix was littered with penalties, affecting Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Ollie Bearman, and Lance Stroll. Some fans consider the Grand Prix a bit of an anticlimax compared to the previous races this season: no unexpected crashes, safety cars, or pit-stop drama. But perhaps this reflects on Lando Norris, who isn’t the dirtiest or most reckless driver on the grid. He is considered by a lot of fans to be honest and open about his limits, often being the first to admit his shortcomings. Despite being known to “choke under pressure”, Norris delivered when things mattered most. Piastri often benefited from such mistakes. For example at the Canadian Grand Prix, Norris frustratedly tried to pass his teammate but ultimately crashed and did not finish – whereas Piastri finished fourth. Despite Piastri leading the championship for fifteen out of twenty-four rounds, Norris beat his teammate to become the eleventh British F1 world champion.
What does Norris’ championship mean for other drivers on the grid? Piastri can be proud of his third-place finish in the championship, even after leading for so long. He has nine wins in just three seasons racing in the pinnacle of motorsport. Challenging for the title at this time is a great achievement, even if he couldn’t finish the job. As for Max Verstappen, he did not accomplish five consecutive world championships, but he still had a brilliant season in a not-so-brilliant car. Within Red Bull, there was plenty of inner conflict; for example staff departures such as Jonathan Wheatley and Adrian Newey before the season had even begun, as well as troubles with their no. 2 drivers. Yet Verstappen kept a cool head. He had many superb performances, ending the season with eight wins (more than either McLaren driver). Verstappen really gave everything, with a great comeback in the second half of the season.
The biggest talking points for 2026 include Cadillac joining the grid, regulation changes for the cars, Arvid Lindblad (the only rookie) driving for VCARB, and a Grand Prix debut for the ‘Madring’, Madrid’s new F1 circuit. Keep your eyes peeled for a 2026 Season Preview next term, where all of these will be discussed in lots of detail!
