Lando Norris was overcome with emotion as he clinched his first F1 world championship title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Despite finishing third in the race, Norris secured the championship by a slim two-point margin over Max Verstappen.
The British driver became the 35th world champion in F1 history, expressing his joy and relief after a period of uncertainty. On the team radio, Norris thanked his McLaren crew for making his dreams a reality and dedicated his victory to his parents.
McLaren team principal Zak Brown praised Norris and teammate Oscar, hailing them as a fantastic duo. Norris had entered the Abu Dhabi race with a 12-point lead over Verstappen, who won the final three races but fell short of claiming his fifth title.
During the race, Norris faced a stewards’ investigation for a maneuver involving Yuki Tsunoda, but he escaped any penalties. Despite Verstappen winning the race, Norris’ consistent performance throughout the season ultimately secured him the championship.
Verstappen finished 12.5 seconds ahead of second-place Oscar Piastri, opting not to employ any controversial tactics to challenge Norris. Norris crossed the finish line 3.9 seconds behind his teammate Piastri and held off Charles Leclerc to secure his championship victory.