🔗 Share this article Lando Norris Secures Debut Formula One World Championship in Abu Dhabi In Spite Of Verstappen's Race Win. Through an exhibition of brave driving, the McLaren driver has clinched his debut Formula One world championship by securing third place at the Yas Marina race. A podium was all that was required for the 26-year-old driver, despite the fact that Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the race and his teammate at McLaren Oscar Piastri finished in second. Norris executed precisely what was needed in an incredibly high-pressure contest at the Yas Marina Circuit, featuring a series of audacious overtakes, with flawless work from both himself and his McLaren squad. A Historic Accomplishment for Britain and The Team In taking his maiden world championship, Norris is now the 11th British driver to accomplish the feat. It also brings to an end McLaren's title wait, 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 resurgence for the team, since a nadir 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 well-drilled outfit with a very fast car. The new champion performs a celebratory donut after winning the world championship. The Story of the McLaren Regarding his teammate Oscar Piastri, who had been the favorite for a large part of the season, there was clear disappointment at faltering in the final third. Several of poor performances and some errors, such as a crash in Baku, were expensive. Nevertheless, he emerges having shown he is too world champion material. Being so competitive in only his third year in F1, with multiple victories, remains a huge achievement. Max Verstappen was also exceptional to force the fight down to the last race. The Dutchman did all he could in Abu Dhabi with the race victory, but having come back from a 104-point deficit in August, he did not quite have the points to catch Norris, finishing just a handful of points short. Closing it Out with Clinical Execution Norris closed out his success with clinical precision to win the championship that had been so close but remained just out of grasp as McLaren struggled at the last two rounds. These included a double disqualification in Las Vegas and then an egregious tactical decision in Qatar. This represents no little achievement for the 26-year-old in his seventh season in F1, each one with McLaren. He stuck with the team even during some difficult periods, convinced they would come good. That faith was rewarded in Abu Dhabi. He has done a hugely impressive job to persist with his task, maintaining his cool and confidence during periods under pressure. After losing the championship lead to Piastri after Saudi Arabia, he still worked at getting the most from what he could. Lando Norris chases down the car of another competitor during the grand prix. The Decisive Grand Prix In the race, Verstappen kept his lead through the first corner, but the main contenders kept it clean. Piastri, using the more durable compound, was feisty and made a brilliant move to go round the outside of Norris to claim second place. It showed the McLarens were allowed to fight, but put Norris under threat from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. The first round pit stops saw Norris come out into traffic, but he passed rivals quickly and showed no signs of nerves in his driving. On lap 19, he made an absolutely bravura move to overtake two cars at once, climbing to fourth and catching Verstappen's teammate. Red Bull told their driver to hold up Norris, leading to a dramatic assault where Norris went up the inside, nearly completely off the track. The incident was investigated by the stewards, with a few 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 vital to his title fight. Diverging Fates As Norris was crowned the first Briton to take the title since Lewis Hamilton in 2020, the difference in fortunes between the two was pronounced. While the new generation battled over the title, Hamilton, the veteran, could only finish eighth place in Abu Dhabi, a dismal ending to a dismal season with Ferrari. Making his debut with the Scuderia had been met by enthusiasm but has yielded what was easily his most challenging year ever, ending up sixth in the championship without a top-three finish. He has appeared jaded in the closing races and will look to reset over the off-season. Lando Norris celebrates on his car after becoming world champion.
Through an exhibition of brave driving, the McLaren driver has clinched his debut Formula One world championship by securing third place at the Yas Marina race. A podium was all that was required for the 26-year-old driver, despite the fact that Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the race and his teammate at McLaren Oscar Piastri finished in second. Norris executed precisely what was needed in an incredibly high-pressure contest at the Yas Marina Circuit, featuring a series of audacious overtakes, with flawless work from both himself and his McLaren squad. A Historic Accomplishment for Britain and The Team In taking his maiden world championship, Norris is now the 11th British driver to accomplish the feat. It also brings to an end McLaren's title wait, 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 resurgence for the team, since a nadir 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 well-drilled outfit with a very fast car. The new champion performs a celebratory donut after winning the world championship. The Story of the McLaren Regarding his teammate Oscar Piastri, who had been the favorite for a large part of the season, there was clear disappointment at faltering in the final third. Several of poor performances and some errors, such as a crash in Baku, were expensive. Nevertheless, he emerges having shown he is too world champion material. Being so competitive in only his third year in F1, with multiple victories, remains a huge achievement. Max Verstappen was also exceptional to force the fight down to the last race. The Dutchman did all he could in Abu Dhabi with the race victory, but having come back from a 104-point deficit in August, he did not quite have the points to catch Norris, finishing just a handful of points short. Closing it Out with Clinical Execution Norris closed out his success with clinical precision to win the championship that had been so close but remained just out of grasp as McLaren struggled at the last two rounds. These included a double disqualification in Las Vegas and then an egregious tactical decision in Qatar. This represents no little achievement for the 26-year-old in his seventh season in F1, each one with McLaren. He stuck with the team even during some difficult periods, convinced they would come good. That faith was rewarded in Abu Dhabi. He has done a hugely impressive job to persist with his task, maintaining his cool and confidence during periods under pressure. After losing the championship lead to Piastri after Saudi Arabia, he still worked at getting the most from what he could. Lando Norris chases down the car of another competitor during the grand prix. The Decisive Grand Prix In the race, Verstappen kept his lead through the first corner, but the main contenders kept it clean. Piastri, using the more durable compound, was feisty and made a brilliant move to go round the outside of Norris to claim second place. It showed the McLarens were allowed to fight, but put Norris under threat from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. The first round pit stops saw Norris come out into traffic, but he passed rivals quickly and showed no signs of nerves in his driving. On lap 19, he made an absolutely bravura move to overtake two cars at once, climbing to fourth and catching Verstappen's teammate. Red Bull told their driver to hold up Norris, leading to a dramatic assault where Norris went up the inside, nearly completely off the track. The incident was investigated by the stewards, with a few 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 vital to his title fight. Diverging Fates As Norris was crowned the first Briton to take the title since Lewis Hamilton in 2020, the difference in fortunes between the two was pronounced. While the new generation battled over the title, Hamilton, the veteran, could only finish eighth place in Abu Dhabi, a dismal ending to a dismal season with Ferrari. Making his debut with the Scuderia had been met by enthusiasm but has yielded what was easily his most challenging year ever, ending up sixth in the championship without a top-three finish. He has appeared jaded in the closing races and will look to reset over the off-season. Lando Norris celebrates on his car after becoming world champion.