🔗 Share this article Lando Norris Claims First F1 Drivers' Crown in Abu Dhabi Despite Max Verstappen's Grand Prix Win. Through an exhibition of gutsy racing, Lando Norris has clinched his first F1 world title by securing P3 at the Yas Marina race. Third place was all that was required for the 26-year-old driver, even though his rival Max Verstappen finished first and his teammate at McLaren Oscar Piastri finished in second. Norris executed precisely what was required in an incredibly high-pressure battle at the Abu Dhabi track, featuring a number of bold passing maneuvers, with impeccable execution from both himself and his McLaren squad. A Historic Achievement for British Motorsport and The Team With this his maiden world championship, Norris becomes the 11th British driver to do so. It also brings to an end the team's title wait, which stretched back to 2008 when Lewis Hamilton was their last champion. Additionally, it had been 27 years since McLaren last secured the drivers’ and constructors’ double back in 1998. This marks a remarkable revival for the team, since a low point in the middle of the last decade when they ended up ninth in the constructors’ championship. This resurgence has been spearheaded by team principal Zak Brown and, more recently, by Andrea Stella, who has delivered an operationally sharp outfit with a race-winning car. The new champion performs a celebratory spin after winning the world championship. A Tale of Two Teammates For the Australian Oscar Piastri, who had been the favorite for a large part of the season, there was obvious frustration at faltering in the final third. Several of poor performances and some errors, such as a crash in Baku, proved costly. However, he finishes the season having shown he is too world champion material. To have been so competitive in only his third season in F1, with seven wins, remains very impressive. Verstappen too had been brilliant to force the fight down to the last race. The Dutchman did everything possible in Abu Dhabi with the win, but after fighting back from a significant deficit in August, he did not quite have enough to overhaul Norris, finishing just two points behind. Sealing the Deal with Clinical Precision He secured his title with clinical 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 strategy call in Qatar. It was no little achievement for the driver in his seventh year in F1, each one with McLaren. He remained loyal to the squad even during tough periods, believing they would come good. That faith was rewarded in Abu Dhabi. Norris performed a remarkable job to persist with his task, keeping his cool and belief during periods under pressure. Having lost the lead to Piastri after Saudi Arabia, he still worked at getting the most from the car's potential. Lando Norris closes on the car of another competitor during the race. The Decisive Grand Prix In the race, Verstappen held his lead through turn one, but the main contenders kept it clean. Piastri, using the hard tyre, was aggressive and made a spectacular move to pass the outside of Norris to claim second place. It showed the McLarens were allowed to fight, but left Norris under threat from the Charles Leclerc. Early pit stops saw Norris emerge in traffic, but he overtook 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 catching Verstappen's teammate. Red Bull instructed their driver to delay Norris, which resulted in a dramatic assault where Norris went up the inside line, nearly completely off the track. The incident was looked at by the stewards, with several impossibly tense laps passing before a time penalty for his rival and no further action for Norris was decided. This bold move without being held up was crucial to his championship bid. Contrasting Fortunes While Norris was crowned the first Briton to take the title since Lewis Hamilton in 2020, the difference in fortunes between the two was stark. While the new generation fought for the title, Hamilton, the veteran, could manage only eighth place in Abu Dhabi, a dismal ending to a dismal season with Ferrari. Making his debut with the Scuderia had been greeted with enthusiasm but has yielded what was comfortably his worst season ever, ending up sixth in the championship without a podium. He has appeared jaded in the closing races and will look to rebuild over the off-season. Lando Norris celebrates on his car after being crowned world champion.
Through an exhibition of gutsy racing, Lando Norris has clinched his first F1 world title by securing P3 at the Yas Marina race. Third place was all that was required for the 26-year-old driver, even though his rival Max Verstappen finished first and his teammate at McLaren Oscar Piastri finished in second. Norris executed precisely what was required in an incredibly high-pressure battle at the Abu Dhabi track, featuring a number of bold passing maneuvers, with impeccable execution from both himself and his McLaren squad. A Historic Achievement for British Motorsport and The Team With this his maiden world championship, Norris becomes the 11th British driver to do so. It also brings to an end the team's title wait, which stretched back to 2008 when Lewis Hamilton was their last champion. Additionally, it had been 27 years since McLaren last secured the drivers’ and constructors’ double back in 1998. This marks a remarkable revival for the team, since a low point in the middle of the last decade when they ended up ninth in the constructors’ championship. This resurgence has been spearheaded by team principal Zak Brown and, more recently, by Andrea Stella, who has delivered an operationally sharp outfit with a race-winning car. The new champion performs a celebratory spin after winning the world championship. A Tale of Two Teammates For the Australian Oscar Piastri, who had been the favorite for a large part of the season, there was obvious frustration at faltering in the final third. Several of poor performances and some errors, such as a crash in Baku, proved costly. However, he finishes the season having shown he is too world champion material. To have been so competitive in only his third season in F1, with seven wins, remains very impressive. Verstappen too had been brilliant to force the fight down to the last race. The Dutchman did everything possible in Abu Dhabi with the win, but after fighting back from a significant deficit in August, he did not quite have enough to overhaul Norris, finishing just two points behind. Sealing the Deal with Clinical Precision He secured his title with clinical 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 strategy call in Qatar. It was no little achievement for the driver in his seventh year in F1, each one with McLaren. He remained loyal to the squad even during tough periods, believing they would come good. That faith was rewarded in Abu Dhabi. Norris performed a remarkable job to persist with his task, keeping his cool and belief during periods under pressure. Having lost the lead to Piastri after Saudi Arabia, he still worked at getting the most from the car's potential. Lando Norris closes on the car of another competitor during the race. The Decisive Grand Prix In the race, Verstappen held his lead through turn one, but the main contenders kept it clean. Piastri, using the hard tyre, was aggressive and made a spectacular move to pass the outside of Norris to claim second place. It showed the McLarens were allowed to fight, but left Norris under threat from the Charles Leclerc. Early pit stops saw Norris emerge in traffic, but he overtook 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 catching Verstappen's teammate. Red Bull instructed their driver to delay Norris, which resulted in a dramatic assault where Norris went up the inside line, nearly completely off the track. The incident was looked at by the stewards, with several impossibly tense laps passing before a time penalty for his rival and no further action for Norris was decided. This bold move without being held up was crucial to his championship bid. Contrasting Fortunes While Norris was crowned the first Briton to take the title since Lewis Hamilton in 2020, the difference in fortunes between the two was stark. While the new generation fought for the title, Hamilton, the veteran, could manage only eighth place in Abu Dhabi, a dismal ending to a dismal season with Ferrari. Making his debut with the Scuderia had been greeted with enthusiasm but has yielded what was comfortably his worst season ever, ending up sixth in the championship without a podium. He has appeared jaded in the closing races and will look to rebuild over the off-season. Lando Norris celebrates on his car after being crowned world champion.