🔗 Share this article McLaren's Lando Norris Secures Maiden F1 World Title in Abu Dhabi In Spite Of Max Verstappen's Race Triumph. Through an exhibition of gutsy racing, the McLaren driver has clinched his maiden F1 world title by achieving third place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. That finish was enough for the 26-year-old driver, even though Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished first and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri finished in second. Norris executed exactly what was required in an enormously intense battle at the Yas Marina Circuit, featuring a series of audacious overtakes, with impeccable work from both himself and his McLaren squad. An Important Accomplishment for British Motorsport and McLaren By winning his first world championship, Norris is now the eleventh driver from Britain to do so. It also brings to an end McLaren's title drought, which went back to 2008 when Lewis Hamilton was their last champion. Furthermore, it had been 27 years since McLaren last secured the drivers’ and constructors’ double back in 1998. It signifies a remarkable turnaround for the Woking-based outfit, since a low point in the middle of the last decade when they ended up ninth in the constructors’ championship. The revival has been helmed by boss Zak Brown and, most recently, by Andrea Stella, who has delivered an operationally sharp team with a hugely competitive car. The new champion executes a celebratory spin after securing the world championship. A Tale of Two Teammates Regarding his teammate Oscar Piastri, who had led the championship for a large part of the campaign, there was obvious disappointment at faltering in the later races. Several of poor performances and mistakes, such as crashing out in Baku, proved costly. Nevertheless, he emerges having shown he is too world champion material. Being so competitive in only his third year in F1, with seven wins, remains very impressive. Max Verstappen too had been brilliant to take the fight down to the last race. The Dutchman did all he could in Abu Dhabi with the win, but having come back from a significant deficit in August, he fell just short of having the points to overhaul Norris, ending up just two points behind. Sealing the Deal with Ruthless Execution Norris closed out his success with ruthless focus to take the championship that had been within reach but eluded him as McLaren found themselves floundering at the last two races. First a double disqualification in Las Vegas and then an questionable strategy call in Qatar. This represents no little accomplishment for the 26-year-old in his seventh season in F1, each one with McLaren. He remained loyal to the team even during some difficult times, believing they would come good. That faith was vindicated in Abu Dhabi. Norris performed a hugely impressive job to stick at his goal, maintaining his cool and belief even when under pressure. Having lost the championship lead to Piastri earlier, he still worked at maximising the car's potential. Norris chases down the car of Yuki Tsunoda during the grand prix. The Title-Deciding Grand Prix In the race, Verstappen kept his first place through turn one, but the main contenders avoided contact. Piastri, starting on the more durable compound, was aggressive and made a brilliant move to go round the outside of Norris to take second place. This demonstrated the McLarens were allowed to fight, but left Norris under pressure from the Charles Leclerc. Early pit visits saw Norris come out into midfield traffic, but he passed rivals within a lap and displayed great composure in his driving. On lap 19, he made an absolutely bravura move to overtake two cars at once, moving up to fourth and closing on Verstappen's teammate. Red Bull told their driver to delay Norris, which resulted in a breathtaking assault where Norris went up the inside, nearly leaving the track. This moment was looked at by the stewards, with a few impossibly tense laps passing before a penalty for his rival and no further action for Norris settled the matter. This decisive charge without being held up was vital to his title fight. Diverging Fortunes While Norris was crowned the first Briton to win 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 grand champion, could manage only eighth place in Abu Dhabi, a disappointing conclusion to a dismal season with Ferrari. Making his debut with the Scuderia had been met by enthusiasm but produced what was comfortably his worst season ever, finishing sixth in the championship without a top-three finish. He has looked jaded in the closing races and will look to reset over the winter. The champion revels on his car after becoming the title winner.
Through an exhibition of gutsy racing, the McLaren driver has clinched his maiden F1 world title by achieving third place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. That finish was enough for the 26-year-old driver, even though Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished first and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri finished in second. Norris executed exactly what was required in an enormously intense battle at the Yas Marina Circuit, featuring a series of audacious overtakes, with impeccable work from both himself and his McLaren squad. An Important Accomplishment for British Motorsport and McLaren By winning his first world championship, Norris is now the eleventh driver from Britain to do so. It also brings to an end McLaren's title drought, which went back to 2008 when Lewis Hamilton was their last champion. Furthermore, it had been 27 years since McLaren last secured the drivers’ and constructors’ double back in 1998. It signifies a remarkable turnaround for the Woking-based outfit, since a low point in the middle of the last decade when they ended up ninth in the constructors’ championship. The revival has been helmed by boss Zak Brown and, most recently, by Andrea Stella, who has delivered an operationally sharp team with a hugely competitive car. The new champion executes a celebratory spin after securing the world championship. A Tale of Two Teammates Regarding his teammate Oscar Piastri, who had led the championship for a large part of the campaign, there was obvious disappointment at faltering in the later races. Several of poor performances and mistakes, such as crashing out in Baku, proved costly. Nevertheless, he emerges having shown he is too world champion material. Being so competitive in only his third year in F1, with seven wins, remains very impressive. Max Verstappen too had been brilliant to take the fight down to the last race. The Dutchman did all he could in Abu Dhabi with the win, but having come back from a significant deficit in August, he fell just short of having the points to overhaul Norris, ending up just two points behind. Sealing the Deal with Ruthless Execution Norris closed out his success with ruthless focus to take the championship that had been within reach but eluded him as McLaren found themselves floundering at the last two races. First a double disqualification in Las Vegas and then an questionable strategy call in Qatar. This represents no little accomplishment for the 26-year-old in his seventh season in F1, each one with McLaren. He remained loyal to the team even during some difficult times, believing they would come good. That faith was vindicated in Abu Dhabi. Norris performed a hugely impressive job to stick at his goal, maintaining his cool and belief even when under pressure. Having lost the championship lead to Piastri earlier, he still worked at maximising the car's potential. Norris chases down the car of Yuki Tsunoda during the grand prix. The Title-Deciding Grand Prix In the race, Verstappen kept his first place through turn one, but the main contenders avoided contact. Piastri, starting on the more durable compound, was aggressive and made a brilliant move to go round the outside of Norris to take second place. This demonstrated the McLarens were allowed to fight, but left Norris under pressure from the Charles Leclerc. Early pit visits saw Norris come out into midfield traffic, but he passed rivals within a lap and displayed great composure in his driving. On lap 19, he made an absolutely bravura move to overtake two cars at once, moving up to fourth and closing on Verstappen's teammate. Red Bull told their driver to delay Norris, which resulted in a breathtaking assault where Norris went up the inside, nearly leaving the track. This moment was looked at by the stewards, with a few impossibly tense laps passing before a penalty for his rival and no further action for Norris settled the matter. This decisive charge without being held up was vital to his title fight. Diverging Fortunes While Norris was crowned the first Briton to win 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 grand champion, could manage only eighth place in Abu Dhabi, a disappointing conclusion to a dismal season with Ferrari. Making his debut with the Scuderia had been met by enthusiasm but produced what was comfortably his worst season ever, finishing sixth in the championship without a top-three finish. He has looked jaded in the closing races and will look to reset over the winter. The champion revels on his car after becoming the title winner.