F1 Abu Dhabi GP live commentary and updates - Race
Follow live updates of the F1 2025 finale with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit
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Lap 22/58
"All you can when he catches," is the message to Tsunoda with Norris closing in. Will he bring out his inner Perez from 2021?
Tsunoda: "I know what to do, so leave to me."
Let's see shall we?
Lap 23/58
Turns out Tsunoda didn't really know, as Norris moves past with the first opportunity.
Lap 24/58
Verstappen pits for hards, so Piastri is now the leader.
Lap 24/58
The overtake has been noted as there is debate whether or not it was completed with all four of Lando's tyres over the white line. He should be fine though and it's not like Tsunoda is still right behind, as Leclerc is now fourth.
Just adding on the noting of the overtake, because Tsunoda is also under question for the way he swerved quite drastically to defend - rather unsuccessfully - position.
Lap 27/58
Who's idea was it to give Abu Dhabi the finale? Because let's be real, this race hasn't been a classic - but has that been the case for any grand prix at Yas Marina?
Five-second penalty for Tsunoda - "more than one change of direction" when defending against Norris.
NFA on Norris' overtake, meanwhile. It's all setting up for the McLaren driver to become champion.
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photo by: Andrej Isakovic / AFP via Getty Images
Rather mental that Tsunoda is surprised by the penalty. Come on Yuki, you knew what you were doing...
Lap 35/58
It's a game of chess now with no on-track battles currently happening. But McLaren is preparing to pit Piastri from the lead.
Lap 38/58
It's hard to see how Norris loses this one. He's 5s behind Verstappen, but more crucially 6s ahead of Leclerc.
The United Kingdom is set for its 11th world champion as things stand. Norris will join a list that comprises of Hamilton (7), Stewart (3), Clark (2), Graham Hill (2), Button (1), Hawthorn (1), Hunt (1), Damon Hill (1), Mansell (1) and Surtees (1).
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photo by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lap 40/58
Maybe there's a late twist though as Ferrari pit Leclerc for a second time. Interesting to see if McLaren reacts with Norris.
Lap 41/58
And so it does as Norris comes in, while Verstappen is just 0.6s behind Piastri for the lead.
Lap 41/58
Absolute routine. A 2.4s stop for Norris and he comes out easily in third just as Verstappen overtakes Piastri for first.
Lap 41/58
McLaren has rightly come under a lot of scrutiny this year for many of its mistakes. But today, it's not put a foot wrong. It's fair to say that Norris will not lose this title through a slow stop...
Lap 42/58
But speaking of stops, Piastri pits and holds onto second.
Bring back the good, old days of an Interlagos finale, ay?
Verstappen: "Is Charles catching him or not?"
Lambiase: "Fairly equal pace Max."
Lap 48/58
So, scores on the door. Verstappen leads, 20s over Piastri, there was debate about whether he will come into pit again but it's hard to see a reason for him doing that unless there's a safety car.
Norris is 4.5s behind Piastri while Leclerc, who has the fastest lap, is 4.1s off the championship leader. Verstappen needs the Ferrari driver to overtake, otherwise the wait goes on for a fifth world title.
Lap 54/58
Not much has really happened across the recent laps. Leclerc is falling behind Norris, who is gradually closing in on Piastri. It'll take something miraculous for Norris to not become champion.
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photo by: James Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images
Lap 56/58
As it stands, Verstappen will finish the year with the most poles and race wins [both eight]. But obviously that's not the record he'll want, with the title going the way of Norris right now.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Andrej Isakovic / AFP via Getty Images
Lap 57/58
But let's give it to Lando, because this'll be his moment and rightly so. There is debate over whether he's been the best driver this year, but the way he's fought back since that Zandvoort retirement is impressive. A 34-point deficit being turned into a maiden world title.
Max Verstappen wins the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but wait for the headlines to go elsewhere...
LANDO NORRIS IS THE 2025 FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPION
Camera pans straight to the McLaren garage, where Lando's mum is crying. These moments are the ones to savour...
A tearful Norris: "I love you guys, thanks for everything - you deserve it. I love you mum, I love you dad."
Verstappen: "I'm definitely not disappointed. I'm proud of everyone, we never give up."
As is customary in Abu Dhabi, Norris is now doing doughnuts down the start-finish straight...
It's hugmania on that pit straight. Zak, Sainz, Russell, mechanics, family, all wanting a bit of Lando.
But the cameras did catch a nice moment when Norris' mum headed over to Piastri to console the other McLaren driver, who finishes this year third in the championship.
Speaking of the championship, here is how the top three finishes:
1. Lando Norris - 423 points
2. Max Verstappen - 421 points
3. Oscar Piastri - 410 points
Norris: "I've not cried in a while. DIdn't think I'd cry but I did. It's a long journey, a long journey."
The second Autosport young driver winner to win the F1 world championship after Jenson Button...
Here comes the podium as world champion Lando Norris is first to greet the steps!
Lifts his head up to the sky as a Formula 1 world champion...
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
PR email of the day, dropped almost the second the grand prix finished. A street in Somerset, Lando's home county, will be named in his honour. It's almost like they had that planned and ready to go!
By: Ed Hardy
