In yet another exciting season-finale of Formula 1 in Abu Dhabi, McLaren driver Lando Norris secured his first F1 championship despite finishing third to Red Bull’s defending champion Max Verstappen and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.
Norris had come to Abu Dhabi 12 points ahead of Verstappen and 16 ahead of Piastri. The result at Yas Marina Circuit kept Norris two points ahead of Verstappen in the final season standings.
Verstappen needed Norris to be fourth or lower, and, in case of a Piastri win, for Norris to finish outside the top five. But in the end, the 26-year-old British driver denied Verstappen a fifth straight title.
Verstappen had started from pole position for Red Bull, with Norris on the front row beside him and Piastri third on the grid. Verstappen’s fifth win in Abu Dhabi extended the Yas Marina Circuit’s record in producing 11 consecutive winners from pole position.
The Belgian came home 12.594 seconds clear of Piastri with Norris third, 3.9sec further adrift.
The Abu Dhabi title was Verstappen’s eighth win of the 24-race season and 71st of his career.
An emotional Norris crossed the line, and then stayed in his car for a few moments. He then went and hugged his parents, who were on the side of the track, and his McLaren engineers and mechanics.
The finish for Norris and Piastri also completed the first title double for McLaren since 1998.
“I haven’t cried in a while, I didn’t think I would cry, but I did,” Norris said on the podium.
“It feels amazing, I know now what Max feels like a little bit. I want to congratulate both Max and Oscar, I’ve enjoyed it, it’s been a long year!
Talking about his season, Norris added: “As we’ve seen many times, anything can happen. So I just kept pushing. I wanted to fight to the end. (Verstappen and Piastri) certainly did not make my life easy this year. But I am happy!
“It has been a long journey with McLaren, I’ve been with them for nine years. For me to bring something back to them, I feel like I did my part for the team this year so I’m proud of myself.”
Zak Brown, McLaren CEO, said: “That was exciting, a little too exciting, awesome. What an effort, Lando and Oscar, what a fantastic season!
“I’m so proud of our drivers, we let them race to the end. It’s been a dream with these two guys, as that Max guy is hard to beat. So, what an accomplishment.”
Despite the loss, which came after an astonishing charge towards end of the season, Verstappen said: “I’m definitely not disappointed. I am proud of everyone. We never give up.”
