British driver Lando Norris clinched the Drivers’ Championship title, making him the 11th Brit to achieve this feat by securing third place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Heading into the race, Norris held a 12-point lead over Max Verstappen, the reigning champion, with his teammate Oscar Piastri also in contention, trailing Verstappen by four points.
Norris missed a chance to claim the championship in Qatar due to a strategic error by McLaren, allowing Verstappen to stay in the title race. The pressure was on Norris as he aimed for victory in Abu Dhabi. Qualifying saw Norris secure a front-row start by edging out Piastri for second place on the grid behind Verstappen.
During the race, Norris faced early challenges, losing a position to Piastri and then having to defend against Charles Leclerc. Despite strong competition, Norris managed his race well, making key pit stops to maintain his position and eventually building a comfortable lead over his rivals.
As the race progressed, Norris strategically managed his tires and maintained a solid gap to Leclerc. With a composed performance, he crossed the finish line to secure the championship, marking the culmination of his seven-year journey in Formula 1 and putting British motorsport back on top of the world.