Lando Norris was overwhelmed with emotions as he clinched his first F1 world championship title. The Brit secured third place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, edging out Max Verstappen by two points to become the 35th champion in F1 history. Norris expressed his gratitude to his team over the radio, thanking them for making his dreams come true and dedicating the victory to his parents.
McLaren team principal Zak Brown praised Norris and his teammate Oscar for their outstanding performance. Norris had a 12-point lead over Verstappen heading into the Abu Dhabi race, where a strategic error by McLaren allowed Verstappen to win but was insufficient to thwart Norris’s championship bid.
Despite facing a stewards’ investigation during the race, Norris escaped penalties and maintained his position to secure the championship. Verstappen won the final three races of the season but fell short of claiming his fifth title. In the end, Norris finished ahead of his teammate Piastri and Ferrari’s Leclerc to solidify his championship victory.