Lando Norris was overcome with emotion as he clinched his first F1 world championship title. Securing third place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Norris edged out Max Verstappen by a mere two points to claim the prestigious victory.
As the 35th world champion in F1 history, the British driver expressed his joy and relief after a tumultuous period. “Thank you guys… oh my god,” Norris exclaimed over the McLaren team radio at the finish line. “You made my dreams come true, thank you so much. I love you guys, for everything. You deserve it. I love you mum, I love you dad. Thanks for everything. And now I’m crying!”
McLaren team principal Zak Brown celebrated the hard-fought win, stating, “We did it, it wasn’t easy. Lando and Oscar, what a group of great drivers!”
Heading into the Abu Dhabi race with a 12-point lead over Verstappen, Norris faced pressure after McLaren’s strategic mishap allowed Verstappen to win in Qatar. Despite Verstappen’s impressive three consecutive wins towards the end of the season, Norris maintained his lead to secure the championship.
During the Abu Dhabi race, Norris faced scrutiny for a maneuver involving Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda but escaped penalty. Although Verstappen took the race victory, Norris’ third-place finish was enough to secure his championship win, with Oscar Piastri finishing second and Charles Leclerc in fourth place.
Verstappen, finishing 12.5 seconds ahead of Piastri, refrained from tactics that could jeopardize Norris’ position, ultimately conceding the championship to the deserving McLaren driver.