Lando Norris wins the Formula 1 world championship with an exciting finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He finished a close third, finishing behind only Max Verstappen and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. The thrilling contest was a huge accomplishment for Norris. He was Britain’s 11th Formula 1 world champion, bringing the campaign to a close with a record 423 points.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was an exhilarating contest between the leaders. Norris had a great battle with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, with Norris just holding on to third place as the Ferrari driver applied serious pressure. Throughout the race, Norris lost ground to Piastri, ultimately finishing 2.7 seconds behind him. He mounted an aggressive campaign which sharply filled the gap. He finished in second place, having crossed the line only 3.4 seconds behind winner Piastri. Even on that final lap, he was more than a second quicker than Verstappen.
A Season of Challenges
Norris’ path to reaching that championship was not without its obstacles. Despite this, throughout the season he often found himself embroiled in tough fair fights with the likes of Verstappen and Leclerc, consistently emerging through adversity. Reflecting on his experiences, Norris remarked, “They certainly didn’t make my life easy this year,” acknowledging the intensity of the competition.
After the race, Norris spoke about how deeply he felt connected to his win. With a catch in his throat, tears in his eyes, he confessed, “I have not cried in years. This particular moment is incredibly important in his career. The support from his family and fans resonated deeply with him as he said, “Thank you guys, you made a kid’s dream come true, I love you guys. I love you mum, I love you dad.”
Teamwork and Celebration
It was the successful partnership with Piastri for the entirety of the season that helped Norris achieve a career-best year on-track. The Australian driver helped support teammate Lando Norris’s championship challenge. After the race, you have to be impressed by Piastri’s sportsmanship in congratulating Norris as soon as he climbed out of his car. Their lighthearted friendship highlighted the culture of teamwork that McLaren has worked so hard to create this year.
McLaren boss Zak Brown praised both drivers, highlighting Piastri’s potential for future success. “He is a future world champion.” Brown congratulated Norris for the well-deserved honor. In his statement, he credited the teamwork and commitment that made this victory possible.
Looking Ahead
Join us in congratulating Norris on his amazing title-winning season! He’s already laying the groundwork to add some new accomplishments to this success in the next season. Looking ahead to more wins, he looks to build on becoming a better all-round driver in the world of Formula 1. It is his talent, teamwork and pure grit that have set him on course for an extremely bright future on the racetrack.
