The 2025 Formula One season ended beneath the sparkling evening lights of Yas Marina with a finale that felt poised on a delicate edge. Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix through clear control of the race, yet the wider story belonged to Lando Norris. His third-place finish delivered his first World Drivers’ Championship, decided by a margin of only two points over Verstappen and thirteen over Oscar Piastri. It was the kind of season where almost every weekend carried weight, and where the title remained uncertain until the very last laps.
A sense of transition hung over the circuit. The race closed not only a championship but an entire era, with the 2026 regulations waiting to reshape the competitive landscape. In that setting, the evening developed into a moment of significance for both the sport and its newest champion.
Abu Dhabi and the Final Turn of Fortune
Verstappen began from pole position and placed the Red Bull in a rhythm that allowed him to shape the race without serious disturbance. Piastri took and held second for McLaren and applied steady pressure. Norris, passed by his team mate early on, settled into third and approached the race with the calm precision that had characterised much of his campaign. His task was to stay clear of Leclerc, manage his tyres and avoid moments of jeopardy.
The main test came in the middle phase, when Yuki Tsunoda defended forcefully against Norris. Tsunoda later received a penalty for dangerous weaving and more than one change of direction, which eased some of the stress within the McLaren garage. Norris remained focused and maintained the position he needed. Verstappen crossed the line first, followed by Piastri. Norris secured the final podium place and with it the championship.
The finishing order established a stable narrative. Leclerc brought the Ferrari home in fourth, Russell placed Mercedes into fifth, and Alonso produced another thoughtful drive for Aston Martin. Ocon delivered surprising points for Haas, with Hamilton, Hulkenberg and Stroll completing the top ten. The result confirmed Norris on 423 points, Verstappen on 421 and Piastri on 410.
The Leading Contenders
Lando Norris
Norris reached a long-anticipated breakthrough. He became the 35th World Champion and the first British driver to win the title since Lewis Hamilton. His season was built on clarity and consistency, supported by a McLaren operation that evolved into the most complete unit on the grid. He handled the setbacks that arrived midway through the year, including the double disqualification in Las Vegas and the retirement at Zandvoort, without allowing them to disrupt his momentum. By the final rounds he had developed a pattern of measured race management that kept him firmly in the title conversation. His work in Abu Dhabi completed the journey.
Max Verstappen
Verstappen produced a season of two distinct parts. The early races carried mixed results and occasional frustration. The closing stages were marked by precision, strong qualifying and a sequence of ten consecutive podiums. He finished the year with eight victories and placed himself back into the centre of the championship chase. His performance in Abu Dhabi represented the best possible response to the situation. He controlled the race from start to finish and forced Norris to deliver under pressure. The narrowness of the final margin reflected how hard he pressed throughout the decisive phase of the year.
Oscar Piastri
Piastri spent large portions of the season as the benchmark in qualifying and race leadership. He led more laps than anyone, collected seven victories and often appeared to have the clearest feel for the behaviour of the McLaren over one lap. The losses came in moments that fell outside his control. The Las Vegas disqualification removed significant points. Several strategic difficulties affected other key rounds. His campaign remained strong until the end and he finished as a genuine title contender, widely regarded as a future champion in waiting.
The Final Order
Based on verified and consistent sources, the top ten drivers finished the season as follows:
- Norris 423
- Verstappen 421
- Piastri 410
- Russell 319
- Leclerc 242
- Hamilton 156
- Antonelli 150
- Albon 73
- Sainz 64
- Alonso 56
The Constructors’ Championship completed the picture. McLaren recorded 833 points to take a commanding first place. Mercedes followed with 469, ahead of Red Bull with 451. Ferrari placed fourth with 398. Williams delivered a much improved season and finished fifth with 137 points.
The Shape of the Midfield
Mercedes
Mercedes delivered a stable and methodical year. The W16 lacked the consistent peak performance of the McLaren and the Red Bull, yet the team extracted its potential effectively. George Russell completed the season in fourth and demonstrated a strong level of adaptability. Kimi Antonelli made an assured debut, scored frequently and provided evidence of long-term promise. Mercedes remained clear of the midfield yet short of the pace required to fully engage in the title battle.
Ferrari
Ferrari’s year brought a mixture of progress and frustration. Leclerc produced several performances of high quality and frequently placed the car into the top group in both qualifying and race conditions. Hamilton adapted to new surroundings and revealed competitive speed during recovery drives, although the season did not yield a podium finish. Ferrari often found themselves close to the desired operating window without holding it firmly enough to challenge across a full race distance. The potential existed within the car and the driver pairing, although the team could not knit those elements together on a consistent basis.
Williams
Williams delivered one of the most encouraging developments in the paddock. The team climbed to fifth in the Constructors’ standings and established a presence within the midfield that reflected real operational progress. Albon and Sainz worked effectively together and converted opportunities with discipline. The steady improvement in both performance and decision making suggested a team on a clear upward path.
Teams Seeking a Revival
The lower positions in the Constructors’ Championship emphasised how challenging the year became for several teams. Alpine struggled throughout and finished last, while Sauber faced a demanding season as it prepared for its transition to Audi. These teams now stand on the threshold of significant change, driven partly by their own development plans and partly by the new regulations that will reset the competitive field.
What Made 2025 Distinct
The season produced a combination of storylines that created a compelling whole. The closeness of the championship fight shaped the tone of the year. Every point had meaning, and every mistake carried consequences. The battle involved three drivers rather than two, which broadened the strategic complexity of the season. McLaren rose to a level of performance that placed them at the top of both championships, and the dynamic between Norris and Piastri added further interest.
The year also highlighted a shift within the driver field. The sport continued to move into a new generation, with Norris, Piastri and Antonelli becoming central figures. Their performances indicated a transition that is likely to continue as the new regulations arrive.
The Arrival of the 2026 Regulations
The upcoming season will begin with a completely revised technical rulebook. The changes reach every major area of the car. The new power units will maintain the 1.6 litre turbo hybrid foundation but place greater emphasis on electric output. Sustainable fuel becomes a full requirement. The cars will become lighter and narrower, which should improve agility and promote closer racing.
Active aerodynamics will replace the current DRS system. Drivers will use different wing settings on straights and through corners and will have access to controlled electrical boosts when running close to a competitor. Early testing has already taken place at Yas Marina, where teams worked with mule cars and 2026 style tyres.
The competitive order may change considerably. Established strengths from 2025 may not carry across, and the interpretation of the new rules could create fresh opportunities for teams throughout the field.
Closing Reflections
The 2025 season will be remembered for its tension, its shifts in momentum and its decisive final act. It delivered a championship fight that remained open until the final laps of the year and produced a new World Champion whose rise has felt steady and well earned. Verstappen and Piastri played major roles in shaping the narrative and kept the pressure on McLaren at every stage.
The sport now faces a new era. The next season will begin with lighter cars, different energy profiles and a refreshed aerodynamic philosophy. That future carries uncertainty, yet the memory of 2025 forms a clear reminder of how the sport thrives when competition tightens and quality rises. The small margins that separated the leading drivers this year may become the template for seasons to come.
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