Lando Norris secured his first Formula One world championship by finishing third in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, edging out Max Verstappen by two points in the final standings. The McLaren driver's podium finish was enough to claim the title, with Verstappen winning the race but falling short overall.
Norris, 25, becomes Britain's 11th F1 world champion, joining legends such as Lewis Hamilton, Jackie Stewart and Nigel Mansell. Prime Minister Keir Starmer congratulated Norris on X, calling it 'an unbelievable season and so well deserved'.
Reflecting on his achievement, Norris said: 'It's pretty cool. It's pretty insane. It's hard for me to even say it yet … maybe tomorrow morning. Has it been a perfect season? Absolutely not. I've had struggles, but I've also had luck and fortune.' He admitted the final laps were emotional, thinking of his family and his karting beginnings.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella praised his driver's response to pressure, noting: 'There was pain and disappointment in the last few races, but I'm most proud of how we responded to the difficulties. This makes the difference, when you're trying to beat a four-times world champion.'
Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time champion, expressed his joy for Norris: 'I'm really, really happy for Lando. Winning your first world title is truly special. The UK continues to pump out great drivers.' Norris also credited teammate Oscar Piastri, who finished third in the championship, saying: 'I've learned a lot from him. He's newer to this than me but I've performed much better because of him.'
The final standings saw Norris on 423 points, Verstappen on 421, and Piastri on 410. George Russell finished fourth for Mercedes, with Charles Leclerc fifth and Hamilton sixth in his final race for Ferrari before moving to the Italian team.
