The dust has finally settled on the Yas Marina Circuit, and honestly, the ending was kinda chaotic. If you’re looking for the short answer to who won the last Formula 1 race, it was Max Verstappen. He took the checkered flag at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 7th.
But here’s the thing: while Max won the battle, he basically lost the war.
Even though Verstappen crossed the line first, the real story was about Lando Norris. By finishing third, Norris officially became the 2025 Formula 1 World Champion. It was one of those races where the guy on the top step of the podium looked almost as miserable as the guys who didn't finish. Max drove like a man possessed, trying to claw back a massive points deficit, but Lando did exactly what he needed to do to seal his maiden title.
The Drama at Abu Dhabi (December 7, 2025)
Max Verstappen didn't just win; he dominated. He led the race for 58 laps, looking untouchable in that Red Bull RB21. Behind him, it was a total chess match. Oscar Piastri took second place, playing the perfect teammate role for McLaren.
Lando Norris finished in third.
That third-place finish was worth 15 points. Because Max won, he got 25. Before the race started, Norris had a 12-point lead. When you do the math, Norris ended up winning the entire championship by a measly two points. Can you imagine? An entire year of racing, 24 different countries, thousands of miles, and it comes down to a gap smaller than what you get for a ninth-place finish.
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Abu Dhabi GP Top 10 Results
- 1st: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- 2nd: Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- 3rd: Lando Norris (McLaren)
- 4th: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- 5th: George Russell (Mercedes)
- 6th: Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- 7th: Esteban Ocon (Haas)
- 8th: Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- 9th: Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
- 10th: Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
It was Lewis Hamilton’s final race for Ferrari in his debut season with the Prancing Horse, and seeing him finish 8th while his teammate Leclerc took 4th was a bit of a reality check for the Tifosi. It wasn't the fairytale ending many hoped for Lewis, but the spotlight was firmly on the McLaren garage anyway.
Why This Race Was Actually Insane
You've gotta understand how close we came to a total meltdown. At one point during the race, Lando was stuck in traffic after a pit stop and ended up wheel-to-wheel with Yuki Tsunoda. If they had touched—if Lando had DNF'd—Max would be a five-time world champion right now.
Verstappen’s comeback in the second half of the 2025 season was legendary. He was 104 points behind after the Dutch Grand Prix in August. Most people, including some pundits who should know better, had written him off. But then Red Bull brought that floor update at Monza and Max went on a tear, winning in Azerbaijan, Austin, Las Vegas, Qatar, and finally Abu Dhabi.
He won eight races in total during the season, which is actually one more than Lando won.
But F1 isn't always about who has the most wins; it’s about who is the most consistent. Lando didn't have many "off" days. He kept racking up podiums even when the McLaren wasn't the fastest car on the grid.
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The 2025 Championship Standings (Final)
The leaderboard at the end of the year tells a story of a changing guard. For the first time in years, we didn't see a Red Bull driver at the top of the pile when the season ended.
Lando Norris finished with the crown, marking the first time a British driver had won since 2020.
McLaren also took home the Constructors' Championship. They didn't just win it; they crushed it. They ended the year with 833 points. To put that in perspective, Mercedes was second with 469 points. Red Bull ended up third with 451. The gap between McLaren and the rest of the field was astronomical, mostly because Oscar Piastri was also a beast, finishing third in the drivers' standings himself.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2025 Finale
There's a common misconception that Red Bull "fell off" at the end of 2025. That’s just not true. Max winning the last race proves they had the pace. The problem was the internal drama.
Christian Horner left the team in July 2025, replaced by Laurent Mekies. Helmut Marko also exited. When you lose the architects of your success mid-season, things are going to get weird. Max was basically carrying that team on his back toward the end.
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Also, people keep talking about "team orders" at McLaren. Honestly, if McLaren had used team orders earlier in the season—specifically at Monza—Lando would have won the title weeks before Abu Dhabi. They let their drivers race, which nearly cost them the title, but it made for much better TV.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Reset
Since the Abu Dhabi race was the last one of the 2025 season, we are currently in the "off-season" phase. As of January 2026, teams are busy launching their new cars for the massive 2026 regulation change.
Max Verstappen has already been spotted in Detroit this month, showing off the new Red Bull-Ford livery. Yep, Ford is back. We’re moving into a new era of power units and active aerodynamics.
The next time we'll see these guys on track for a real race will be the 2026 Australian Grand Prix in March. Until then, Max Verstappen remains the most recent race winner, but Lando Norris is the man with the #1 on his car (though he might stick with his #4, we'll see).
Actionable Insights for F1 Fans
If you’re trying to keep up with the sport before the 2026 season kicks off, here is what you should be doing:
- Watch the 2026 Car Launches: Red Bull and Ford have already started the trend. Keep an eye on Ferrari and Mercedes in February; their new designs are rumored to be radical.
- Monitor the Secondary Market: If you're a collector, David Coulthard’s 2002 Monaco-winning McLaren is hitting the auction block in Paris on January 28th. It’s a rare chance to own a piece of the history that led to the current McLaren dominance.
- Check Pre-Season Testing: The first "shakedown" happens in Barcelona soon. It’s the first real look at who nailed the new 2026 rules and who is going to be struggling at the back of the pack.
- Follow the Rookies: 2026 is bringing in new blood. Isack Hadjar is stepping into the Red Bull seat next to Max. Watching how a rookie handles being teammates with a guy who just won the last race is always fascinating.
The 2025 season was a nail-biter, and Abu Dhabi was the perfect, stressful ending. Max won the race, Lando won the title, and we all need a nap before 2026 starts.