Lando Norris was overwhelmed with emotion as he clinched his first F1 world championship title. Securing third place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Norris edged out Max Verstappen by just two points to become the 35th champion in F1 history. His joy and relief were evident after a tense period leading up to the victory.
Expressing his gratitude on the McLaren team radio, Norris tearfully thanked his team for making his dreams a reality. McLaren boss Zak Brown praised Norris and his teammate Oscar for their exceptional driving skills in achieving the championship win.
Despite a 12-point lead over Verstappen before the Abu Dhabi race, Norris faced scrutiny for a racing incident with Yuki Tsunoda. Verstappen’s strong finish with three consecutive wins was not enough to overtake Norris in the championship standings.
Although Verstappen claimed victory in Abu Dhabi, Norris secured third place to seal his championship triumph. The race saw Verstappen finish ahead of Oscar Piastri, with Norris maintaining a significant lead over fourth-placed Charles Leclerc.