Lando Norris secured his first Formula One world championship with a third-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, overcoming a season-long battle that went down to the wire. The 26-year-old British driver, fighting back tears, described the moment as overwhelming, having started the campaign as a childhood dream that at times seemed out of reach.
Despite Red Bull's Max Verstappen winning the race and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri taking second, Norris's podium finish was enough to edge Verstappen by two points in the final standings. The margin was decided by a crucial overtake on Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli in the closing laps of the penultimate round in Qatar, where Norris gained the decisive points.
Norris becomes the 11th British driver to win the drivers' title, ending McLaren's 16-year drought since Lewis Hamilton's championship in 2008. The team also secured the constructors' championship, marking their first double since 1998 when Mika Häkkinen won the drivers' title and David Coulthard finished third.
McLaren's resurgence under CEO Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella has been remarkable, rising from a low point of ninth in the constructors' championship in the mid-2010s. Norris's composed and aggressive driving in Abu Dhabi, including several bold overtakes, showcased the team's operational sharpness and competitive car.
Piastri, who led the championship from the fifth round until the Mexican Grand Prix, expressed disappointment at fading in the final third but demonstrated his own world champion potential. Verstappen, who fought back from a 104-point deficit in August, was not disheartened, acknowledging his team's maximum effort in a thrilling title fight.
