The wait has been long and torturous for McLaren but by the close of a victory for Lando Norris at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix it was worth it as the team celebrated their first Formula One constructors’ championship for 26 years – opening perhaps a new era for them, just as another came to an end for Lewis Hamilton.
The emotional import of the moment was writ large at McLaren but no less for a visibly moved Hamilton, who finished his career at Mercedes with an exceptional comeback drive from 16th to fourth, bowing out with the same determined panache that has secured him unprecedented success with the team.
