McLaren's Lando Norris Secures First Formula One Drivers' Crown in Abu Dhabi In Spite Of Verstappen's Grand Prix Victory.
With a performance full of gutsy racing, the McLaren driver has won his debut F1 world title by securing third place at the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Third place was sufficient for the 26-year-old driver, despite the fact that his rival Max Verstappen won the race and his teammate at McLaren Oscar Piastri came home in second.
Norris executed exactly what was needed in an incredibly intense battle at the Yas Marina Circuit, featuring a number of audacious overtakes, with flawless work from both the driver and his McLaren squad.
An Important Feat for British Motorsport and The Team
By winning his first world championship, Norris becomes the eleventh British driver to do so. It also brings to an end the team's drivers’ championship drought, which dated back to 2008 when Lewis Hamilton last won it. Furthermore, it had been 27 years since McLaren achieved the drivers’ and constructors’ double back in 1998.
It represents a remarkable turnaround for the team, from a low point in the middle of the last decade when they twice finished ninth in the standings. The comeback has been helmed by team principal Zak Brown and, more recently, by Andrea Stella, who has delivered an efficient team with a very fast car.
Lando Norris executes a celebratory donut after securing the world championship.
The Story of the Teammates
For the Australian Oscar Piastri, who had looked so strong for much of the campaign, there was clear disappointment at stumbling in the final third. Several of poor performances and some errors, including crashing out in Baku, were expensive. Nevertheless, he finishes the season having shown he is too world champion material. To have been so fast in only his third season in F1, with seven wins, remains very impressive.
Verstappen was also brilliant to force the title battle down to the last race. He did all he could in Abu Dhabi with the race victory, but having come back from a 104-point deficit mid-season, he fell just short of having the points to overhaul Norris, ending up just two points short.
Sealing the Deal with Ruthless Execution
He secured his title with ruthless precision to take the crown that had been within reach but remained just out of grasp as McLaren struggled at the previous two races. First a DSQ in Las Vegas and then an egregious tactical decision in Qatar.
It was no little accomplishment for the 26-year-old in his seventh season in F1, each one with McLaren. He stuck with the squad even during tough times, believing they would come good. That faith was rewarded in Abu Dhabi.
Norris performed a hugely impressive job to stick at his task, keeping his cool and belief even when under pressure. After losing the lead to Piastri earlier, he still worked at maximising the car's potential.
Lando Norris chases down the Red Bull of another competitor during the grand prix.
The Title-Deciding Grand Prix
At the start, Verstappen held his first place through turn one, but the main contenders avoided contact. Piastri, using the more durable compound, was feisty and made a spectacular move to pass the outside of Norris to take second place.
This demonstrated the McLarens were allowed to fight, but left Norris under pressure from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. The first round pit visits saw Norris emerge in traffic, but he overtook rivals quickly and showed no signs of nerves in his driving.
On lap 19, he made an incredibly bold move to overtake two cars at once, moving up to fourth and closing on Verstappen's teammate. Red Bull told their driver to delay Norris, leading to a breathtaking assault where Norris went up the inside line, nearly completely off the track.
The incident was looked at by the stewards, with several nerve-wracking laps elapsing before a time penalty for his rival and no further action for Norris settled the matter. This decisive charge unimpeded was crucial to his championship bid.
Diverging Fortunes
As Norris became the first Briton to take the title since Lewis Hamilton in 2020, the difference in form between the two was pronounced. While the new generation battled over the title, Hamilton, the veteran, could manage only eighth place in Abu Dhabi, a dismal ending to a difficult season with Ferrari.
His first season with the Scuderia had been greeted with enthusiasm but produced what was comfortably his worst season ever, ending up sixth in the championship and failing to secure a podium. He has appeared jaded in the closing races and will aim to rebuild over the winter.
Lando Norris revels on his car after becoming the title winner.
