Lando Norris secured his place in history as the 11th British driver to clinch the Drivers’ Championship title with a third-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Heading into the race weekend, Norris held a 12-point lead over defending champion Max Verstappen, with his teammate Oscar Piastri also in contention, trailing Verstappen by four points.
Despite missing out on a previous opportunity to claim the championship in Qatar due to a strategic error by McLaren, Norris faced intense pressure going into the Abu Dhabi race. Qualifying saw Norris secure second position on the grid, just behind Verstappen and ahead of Piastri, setting the stage for a crucial race.
The race unfolded with Norris initially losing a position to Piastri but successfully fending off challenges from Charles Leclerc. Norris made a strategic pit stop to counter potential undercut attempts by competitors, rejoining the race ahead of Leclerc after a swift service by the McLaren team.
As the race progressed, Norris capitalized on a penalty to a competitor and managed his lead over Leclerc while Piastri made his final pit stop. With a comfortable margin, Norris maintained control and eventually crossed the finish line, sealing his championship victory after a seven-year journey in Formula 1.
The triumphant moment marked a return to glory for British motorsport, reaffirming its dominant position on the global stage.