Lando Norris was overwhelmed with emotion as he clinched his first F1 world championship title. Securing a third-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Norris edged out Max Verstappen by a slim two-point margin to claim the coveted championship.
As the 35th world champion in F1 history, British driver Norris expressed his joy and relief after a period of uncertainty. Crossing the finish line, he tearfully thanked his team on the McLaren radio, acknowledging them for making his dreams a reality and expressing his love and gratitude to his parents.
McLaren team principal Zak Brown celebrated the hard-earned victory, recognizing Norris and his teammate Oscar for their exceptional driving skills. Norris had maintained a 12-point lead over Verstappen entering the Abu Dhabi race, despite a strategic error by McLaren in a previous event in Qatar.
Although Verstappen won the final three races of the season, he fell short of securing his fifth title. In Abu Dhabi, Norris faced scrutiny for a racing incident but escaped penalty. Despite Verstappen’s victory in the race, Norris’ consistent performance throughout the season secured his championship triumph.
Verstappen finished the race ahead of Oscar Piastri, opting not to employ any controversial tactics and allowing Norris to secure third place comfortably. Norris finished ahead of his McLaren teammate and fourth-place finisher Charles Leclerc.