Overview
- Lando Norris beat Max Verstappen by two points and Oscar Piastri by 13, as McLaren secured its first drivers–constructors double since 1998.
- Norris rejected claims his Dutch GP retirement eased pressure, saying the 34-point deficit to Piastri forced him to step up preparation, expand his support team and change his approach.
- Verstappen slashed a 104-point gap to two with eight wins, and Martin Brundle named him his standout driver of 2025 despite Norris taking the crown.
- Oscar Piastri called Norris a deserving champion, while McLaren boss Andrea Stella predicted Piastri will win multiple titles, framing the Australian’s trajectory as rapidly rising.
- Juan Pablo Montoya argued McLaren’s car was the decisive factor, and ex-driver Derek Daly warned the team’s equal-treatment policy could be unsustainable against Red Bull’s one-driver focus.