Max Verstappen claimed Driver of the Day at the 2025 Abu Dhabi GP with 19% of the vote, edging out Lando Norris on 16.3%, yet the story centred on the 24-year-old McLaren driver securing his F1 world title with a P3 finish.
Verstappen’s launch was decisive, securing the inside line into Turn 1 and positioning his Red Bull perfectly to neutralise pressure from both drivers behind, and his early authority shaped the flow of the grand prix.
Instantly placing him in a rhythm none of his rivals could match, even after Oscar Piastri momentarily moved into second with an aggressive Turn 9 pass on Norris, as the Red Bull ace maintained full command at the head of the field.
His ability to stretch his medium-tyre stint while preserving peak performance reinforced his grip over the Yas Marina finale, allowing him to dictate the timing of his pit stop without reacting to moves behind.
Max Verstappen leads Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri of McLaren during the F1 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
Even during the pit window, where race order momentarily shuffled, his consistent lap times ensured he remained the clear favourite to retake the lead and once Verstappen emerged from his first stop, his pace advantage became unmistakable.
He immediately rebuilt a comfortable margin as he remained the defining pace-setter throughout the season-ending weekend and closed in on Piastri, who had briefly inherited the lead by extending his initial hard-tyre run.
When the moment came, he reclaimed first place with a smooth and assertive move at Turn 6 on Lap 44, resuming control without drama and crushing any potential challenge and from that point onward, his victory never looked threatened.
His lead ballooned to more than twenty seconds once Piastri pitted for new rubber and it never came back down below 10 as Verstappen romped home to win the 2025 Abu Dhabi GP as well as becoming F1 Driver of the Day.
How did Norris become world champion in Abu Dhabi
While Verstappen captured the race win and fan acclaim, Norris simultaneously etched his name into Formula 1 history by securing the drivers’ championship with a measured and disciplined P3 finish, edging the title by a slender two-point margin.
Norris’s task was straightforward yet unforgiving: Finish third regardless of whether Verstappen and Piastri finished in the top three. He knew he needed to ensure he finished on the podium too.
As Piastri extended his initial hard-tyre stint, the Dutchman closed relentlessly before overtaking him at Turn 6, pushing the Australian into a later stop that nearly triggered an undercut from his McLaren teammate.
That took more control of the title race away from McLaren before Leclerc, attacking on fresher mediums, carved the gap to Norris to under five seconds to offer another headache.
However, Norris responded with increased pace, matching the Ferrari‘s rhythm and reducing the threat of a late-race reversal and with no safety cars forthcoming, his grip on third place strengthened with each passing lap.
Verstappen remained untouchable at the front, yet the title equation depended entirely on the Brit holding position and ultimately, he crossed the line to become F1’s 35th World Champion, completing a season of consistency and determination.
Verstappen may have owned the night with victory and Driver of the Day honours, but Norris claimed the year’s ultimate reward.
