Lando Norris has won his first Formula 1 world title after a tense but gripping finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The 26-year-old from Somerset, who needed a podium to secure the title, finished third behind Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri to finish just two points clear of the Dutchman, whose valiant fightback came up just short at the Yas Marina Circuit. Piastri finishes the season 13 points behind championship winner Norris.
Norris, starting in second on the grid, dropped to third place on lap one with McLaren teammate Piastri swooping brilliantly around the outside at turn nine.
Yet Norris dealt with the pressure superbly, first defending well from Charles Leclerc’s attack early on before brilliantly passing a number of midfield cars to progress rapidly back up the order.
One such move, on Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Yuki Tsunoda, saw the British driver move just off the road as the Japanese driver swerved illegally on the straight. Both drivers were investigated, with Tsunoda handed a five-second penalty.
From that moment on, Norris was in control. Piastri took the lead of the grand prix before pitting with 16 laps to go. Norris pitted for a second time a lap earlier, taking on fresh rubber and staying in third place. While Leclerc closed in, it wasn’t quick enough to mount a title-swinging challenge.
It was heart-in-mouth stuff by the end, with one error critical and Norris’s Belgian mother Cisca barely able to watch at the back of the McLaren garage, but Norris brought his car home safe in the knowledge that third place was enough to become Britain’s 11th F1 world champion. In the end, he finished 6.7 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Leclerc in fourth.
“Yep, we did it!” an emotional Norris said on his team radio. “Thank you guys, oh my god, you’ve made history, thank you so much. I love you guys, thanks for everything, You deserve it. Thanks to my Mum and Dad. Oh god.”
Norris put his hands to his helmet in disbelief as he exited the car and was embraced by Verstappen and Piastri on the start-finish straight after the race.
“I’ve not cried in a while,” he said afterwards. “I didn’t think I’d cry, but I did. It’s a long journey, first of all I want to say a big thanks to my guys, everyone at McLaren and my parents. They’re the ones who’ve supported me since the beginning.
“It feels amazing, I don’t know what Max feels. I want to congratulate Max and Oscar, my two biggest competitors, it’s been a pleasure and honour ro race them. I’ve enjoyed it, it’s been a long year.”
Asked whether he was thinking about the title during the 58-lap race, Norris replied: “You can’t not think about it. I know it’s a long race, we’ve seen many times that anything can happen. I kept pushing until the last two or three laps, we did what we had to do this season. They certainly didn’t make my life easy this year, but I’m happy!
“Not many people in the world or in Formula 1 get to experience what I’ve experienced this year. I’m happy for everyone more than me, I’m just crazy happy!
“It’s been a long journey for me and McLaren, we’ve been together nine years, been through crazy times. It’s their first drivers title in many years, I did my part for the team this year.”
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Lando Norris wins F1 world title after third-place finish in Abu Dhabi
