Ladbrokes' Festive Countdown Day 5: Lando Norris for glory

Norris takes a 12-point lead into the weekend’s race, and has his sights set on becoming McLaren’s first world champion since 2008, when Lewis Hamilton became the youngest Formula One champion of all time in one of history’s most dramatic races.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is Norris’ closest competitor, and the Dutchman is looking to become just the second driver ever to win five consecutive World Championships. His odds of glory are priced at 5/2 ahead of the Abu Dhabi GP, with his win in Qatar last week making things very interesting.

Oscar Piastri finds himself as the outsider going into the World Championship-deciding race, requiring a top-two finish and a minor collapse from his rivals to take the title, and Ladbrokes prices the Aussie at 14/1 - despite him leading the Drivers’ Standings for a large portion of the season.

With seven race wins under his belt in 2025, Lando Norris has put himself in an excellent position to win the F1 World Championship for the first time, banishing the memories of second place in the 2024 Drivers’ Standings.

He is showing signs of feeling the pressure, however, with Norris not making a podium in either of the last two Grands Prix. Disqualification in Las Vegas was followed up by a fourth-place finish in Qatar, so if he is to claim the crown, this weekend’s performance has to be more assured.

Verstappen seems to be relishing the challenge, and while there are a number of permutations that work in Norris’ favour, you fear for his chances should he suffer even a tiny slip-up - particularly considering Verstappen’s experience in title challenges.

The unpredictable nature of F1 makes this an exciting weekend to follow, with the curtain coming down on a season full of twists and turns - but someone must be crowned world champion.

The bookies have Lando Norris as the clear favourite, and with such a valuable cushion over his rivals, we’re tipping the McLaren man to hold on for 2025 glory.

• Ladbrokes Festive Countdown - Day 1 - Aaron Ramsdale to feature in England's 2026 World Cup squad.

• Ladbrokes Festive Countdown - Day 2 - Fulham to draw in their match with Manchester City.

• Ladbrokes Festive Countdown - Day 3 - Arsenal to win a quadruple this season

• Ladbrokes Festive Countdown - Day 4 - Man United to win their next two league games

View the latest Formula One odds.

All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.