History will record Lando Norris as the 2025 Formula 1 World Champion, and rightfully so- he drove a McLaren that was the class of the field with the consistency of a deserving titleholder. But if you look beyond the record books and into the grandstands, a different narrative has taken root this season. Max Verstappen, the man who dominated the sport with robotic precision for years, became something entirely different in 2025: he became the underdog we couldn't help but root for. For the first time in a long time, we didn't see a man in a rocket ship cruising to victory; we saw a fighter dragging a difficult, temperamental RB21 to places it had no business being.

The statistics of his resurgence are staggering and tell the true story of his season. Leaving Zandvoort in August, Max was staring down a hopeless 104-point deficit, his car struggling with balance issues that left him fighting the steering wheel at every corner. Most drivers would have resigned themselves to a "transition year." Instead, Max went to war. He clawed his way back into contention with a relentless, almost angry brilliance, reeling off eight wins in a car that was frequently only the third-fastest on the grid. That final drive in Abu Dhabi- where he qualified on pole and vanished into the distance while the title rivals scrambled behind him- was a masterclass that reminded everyone who the pure quickest driver on the planet really is.

Losing the title by a heartbreaking two points will sting, especially when he reflects on the misfortunes like the Kimi Antonelli clash in Austria or the controversial penalty in Spain. However, this season did something a fourth or fifth dominant title never could have: it humanized him. We saw him vulnerable, we saw him frustrated, and ultimately, we saw him refuse to yield until the very last lap. Lando Norris may have the trophy, but for dragging a fading Red Bull to the bitter edge of glory and making us believe the impossible was possible, Max Verstappen is the driver who truly captured the heart of the 2025 season.

What really stood out in the 2025 Abu Dhabi GP?

If you want to dive deeper into the stats that defined this rivalry, here is a quick breakdown of the key margins: