Starting from pole position, Lando Norris delivered a flawless performance to claim his fourth win of the year, holding off Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc in a dramatic season finale at Yas Marina Circuit.
McLaren entered the weekend with a 21-point lead over Ferrari, but the Grand Prix quickly turned tense. On the opening lap, Oscar Piastri, who had qualified second alongside Norris, collided with newly crowned drivers’ champion Max Verstappen. The incident sent Piastri tumbling to the back of the field, while Verstappen incurred a 10-second penalty for causing the crash. This left Norris as McLaren’s lone frontrunner, maintaining a cool demeanor as he held onto his lead.