🔗 Share this article McLaren's Lando Norris Secures Maiden F1 World Championship in Abu Dhabi In Spite Of Max Verstappen's Race Victory. Through an exhibition of brave driving, Lando Norris has sealed his debut F1 world title by securing third place at the season finale in Abu Dhabi. A podium was enough for the 26-year-old driver, even though Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the race and his teammate at McLaren Oscar Piastri finished in second. He delivered precisely what was necessary in an incredibly high-pressure contest at the Yas Marina Circuit, featuring a number of bold overtakes, with flawless work from both the driver and his McLaren squad. A Historic Accomplishment for British Motorsport and McLaren With this his first world championship, Norris becomes the 11th driver from Britain to do so. It also brings to an end the team's drivers’ championship wait, which went back to 2008 when Lewis Hamilton was their last champion. Furthermore, it had been 27 years since McLaren achieved the drivers’ and constructors’ double back in 1998. It represents a stunning resurgence for the Woking-based outfit, since a low point in the mid-2010s when they twice finished ninth in the constructors’ championship. The comeback has been spearheaded by boss Zak Brown and, most recently, by Andrea Stella, who has built an well-drilled team with a hugely competitive car. Lando Norris performs a victory donut after winning the world championship. A Tale of Two McLaren Regarding his teammate Oscar Piastri, who had led the championship for much of the campaign, there was obvious frustration at faltering in the later races. A series of difficult weekends and mistakes, including a crash in Baku, were expensive. However, he emerges having shown he is too of champion caliber. Being so fast in only his third season in F1, with seven wins, remains a huge achievement. Max Verstappen too had been brilliant to force the title battle to the wire. The Dutchman did everything possible in Abu Dhabi with the race victory, but having come back from a 104-point deficit mid-season, he fell just short of having enough to catch Norris, ending up just a handful of points behind. Closing it Out with Ruthless Precision He secured his title with clinical focus to take the championship that had been so close but remained just out of grasp as McLaren struggled at the previous two races. These included a DSQ in Las Vegas and then an egregious tactical decision in Qatar. This represents a significant accomplishment for the 26-year-old in his seventh season in F1, each one with McLaren. He remained loyal to the squad even during tough times, believing they would return to the top. That faith was vindicated in Abu Dhabi. He has done a hugely impressive job to stick at his task, keeping his composure and confidence during periods under the cosh. Having lost the championship lead to Piastri after Saudi Arabia, he still worked at getting the most from what he could. Norris closes on the car of another competitor during the grand prix. The Decisive Grand Prix At the start, Verstappen kept his lead through the first corner, but the three title leaders kept it clean. Piastri, using the more durable compound, was aggressive and made a brilliant move to go round the outside of Norris to take second place. This demonstrated the McLarens were free to race, but left Norris under threat from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Early pit visits saw Norris come out into midfield traffic, but he passed rivals quickly and displayed great composure in his race craft. On lap 19, he made an absolutely bravura move to dive past two cars at once, climbing to fourth and closing on Verstappen's teammate. Red Bull told their driver to hold up Norris, leading to a dramatic overtaking attempt where Norris went up the inside line, nearly completely off the track. This moment was investigated by the race officials, with several nerve-wracking laps elapsing before a penalty for his rival and exoneration for Norris settled the matter. This decisive charge unimpeded was vital to his championship bid. Diverging Fates As Norris was crowned the first Briton to win the title since Lewis Hamilton in 2020, the difference in form between the two was stark. As the young guns battled over the title, Hamilton, the grand champion, could manage only eighth place in Abu Dhabi, a disappointing conclusion to a difficult season with Ferrari. His first season with the Scuderia had been greeted with enthusiasm but has yielded what was easily his worst season ever, ending up sixth in the championship and failing to secure a top-three finish. He has appeared weary in the closing races and will look to reset over the winter. Lando Norris celebrates on his car after becoming world champion.
Through an exhibition of brave driving, Lando Norris has sealed his debut F1 world title by securing third place at the season finale in Abu Dhabi. A podium was enough for the 26-year-old driver, even though Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the race and his teammate at McLaren Oscar Piastri finished in second. He delivered precisely what was necessary in an incredibly high-pressure contest at the Yas Marina Circuit, featuring a number of bold overtakes, with flawless work from both the driver and his McLaren squad. A Historic Accomplishment for British Motorsport and McLaren With this his first world championship, Norris becomes the 11th driver from Britain to do so. It also brings to an end the team's drivers’ championship wait, which went back to 2008 when Lewis Hamilton was their last champion. Furthermore, it had been 27 years since McLaren achieved the drivers’ and constructors’ double back in 1998. It represents a stunning resurgence for the Woking-based outfit, since a low point in the mid-2010s when they twice finished ninth in the constructors’ championship. The comeback has been spearheaded by boss Zak Brown and, most recently, by Andrea Stella, who has built an well-drilled team with a hugely competitive car. Lando Norris performs a victory donut after winning the world championship. A Tale of Two McLaren Regarding his teammate Oscar Piastri, who had led the championship for much of the campaign, there was obvious frustration at faltering in the later races. A series of difficult weekends and mistakes, including a crash in Baku, were expensive. However, he emerges having shown he is too of champion caliber. Being so fast in only his third season in F1, with seven wins, remains a huge achievement. Max Verstappen too had been brilliant to force the title battle to the wire. The Dutchman did everything possible in Abu Dhabi with the race victory, but having come back from a 104-point deficit mid-season, he fell just short of having enough to catch Norris, ending up just a handful of points behind. Closing it Out with Ruthless Precision He secured his title with clinical focus to take the championship that had been so close but remained just out of grasp as McLaren struggled at the previous two races. These included a DSQ in Las Vegas and then an egregious tactical decision in Qatar. This represents a significant accomplishment for the 26-year-old in his seventh season in F1, each one with McLaren. He remained loyal to the squad even during tough times, believing they would return to the top. That faith was vindicated in Abu Dhabi. He has done a hugely impressive job to stick at his task, keeping his composure and confidence during periods under the cosh. Having lost the championship lead to Piastri after Saudi Arabia, he still worked at getting the most from what he could. Norris closes on the car of another competitor during the grand prix. The Decisive Grand Prix At the start, Verstappen kept his lead through the first corner, but the three title leaders kept it clean. Piastri, using the more durable compound, was aggressive and made a brilliant move to go round the outside of Norris to take second place. This demonstrated the McLarens were free to race, but left Norris under threat from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Early pit visits saw Norris come out into midfield traffic, but he passed rivals quickly and displayed great composure in his race craft. On lap 19, he made an absolutely bravura move to dive past two cars at once, climbing to fourth and closing on Verstappen's teammate. Red Bull told their driver to hold up Norris, leading to a dramatic overtaking attempt where Norris went up the inside line, nearly completely off the track. This moment was investigated by the race officials, with several nerve-wracking laps elapsing before a penalty for his rival and exoneration for Norris settled the matter. This decisive charge unimpeded was vital to his championship bid. Diverging Fates As Norris was crowned the first Briton to win the title since Lewis Hamilton in 2020, the difference in form between the two was stark. As the young guns battled over the title, Hamilton, the grand champion, could manage only eighth place in Abu Dhabi, a disappointing conclusion to a difficult season with Ferrari. His first season with the Scuderia had been greeted with enthusiasm but has yielded what was easily his worst season ever, ending up sixth in the championship and failing to secure a top-three finish. He has appeared weary in the closing races and will look to reset over the winter. Lando Norris celebrates on his car after becoming world champion.