Lando Norris declared that “next year is my year” after main McLaren to the Constructors’ Championship by successful the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Norris got here up quick within the Drivers’ Championship as Max Verstappen sealed a fourth successive title with two rounds to spare, however the Brit ensured McLaren ended 2024 with some silverware.
After team-mate Oscar Piastri dropped from second to the again of the sphere after a first-corner collision with Verstappen, pole-sitter Norris managed the race beautifully to make sure McLaren held off the problem of Ferrari to win the title for the primary time since 1998.
After taking the chequered flag, Norris congratulated his colleagues over workforce radio earlier than including: “It’s been a special year. Next year is going to be my year too.”
The 25-year-old Brit, who in the end completed 63 factors behind Verstappen on the high of the drivers’ standings, later defined to Sky Sports activities F1 why he’s assured of claiming a maiden title in 2025.
“I certainly know I’ve got a lot of what it takes. There’s no doubt about that, and I’m confident in saying that,” he mentioned.
“I clearly, and I feel this 12 months I proved not all the pieces is the place it must be, however even since these moments, I really feel like I’ve improved quite a bit within the final quarter and second half of the 12 months, an enormous quantity.
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Lando Norris insists he has what it takes to win the title in 2025 following his win in Abu Dhabi
“I have confidence in myself, which is, is not a common thing, and I’m never going to go around screaming that kind of thing. But I have confidence that I can fight against Max, and I can fight against Charles and all these other drivers who are just as capable of winning championships, even Lewis and stuff like that next year.
“So, I’ve what it takes. Sure, I would like to enhance in areas, and sure areas are lower than the extent they should be, and I will work onerous over the winter to enhance on them, however I will do this and we’ll combat.”
Piastri ‘undoubtedly’ concentrating on 2025 drivers’ title
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Anthony Davidson was on the SkyPad to take a more in-depth have a look at Max Verstappen’s crash with Oscar Piastri in the beginning of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Norris’ assertion of ambition was notable given McLaren have insisted via 2024 that they contemplate him and Piastri as equals, and have proven they’d solely be keen to prioritise a person’s hopes as soon as it’s close to inconceivable for the opposite driver to be within the combine for the drivers’ title.
The Australian was at occasions capable of match Norris, maybe most memorably when overtaking his team-mate in the beginning of the Hungarian Grand Prix earlier than McLaren’s technique selection created a workforce orders radio cleaning soap opera that finally ended with Piastri claiming his maiden F1 win.
Requested by Sky Sports activities F1 whether or not he too is concentrating on the drivers’ title subsequent 12 months, Piastri supplied an emphatic response.
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Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri focus on their opening lap collision on the Abu Dhabi GP
“Definitely,” he mentioned. “Hopefully we can come out of the blocks strong next season and mount a challenge from the start.
“I nonetheless have some issues to work on and enhance however I really feel prefer it’s been a great step up from my rookie season.
“So, I’m excited for next year, excited for a bit of a break first, and then go again and try to fight for both championships”.
Brown ‘would not wager towards’ Norris for 2025 title
McLaren chief government Zak Brown mentioned it was as much as his two drivers to “figure that one out” concerning the 2025 drivers’ title, however admitted he “wouldn’t bet against” Norris.
Brown instructed Sky Sports activities F1: “That race, he (Norris) carried us. To not make any errors, and we have been apprehensive about Security Vehicles, I used to be apprehensive about all the pieces, and he drove flawlessly, as he is carried out.
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Zak Brown praises Lando Norris’ drive to assert the Constructors’ Championship for McLaren and the essential half performed by Andrea Stella
“So next, try to repeat constructors’ and get the drivers’ (title). I’ll let Oscar and Lando figure that one out.”
Requested about Norris’ radio message, Brown added: “He’s going to give it all he’s got. And given the momentum he’s on, I wouldn’t bet against him.”
Brown additionally admitted watching his workforce try to finish a 26-year look ahead to the constructors’ title was “the worst two hours” of his life.
He singled out the McLaren pit crew for explicit reward as they expertly executed Norris’ solely cease of the race to maintain him forward of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who had stopped a lap earlier to try an undercut.
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Zak Brown says that Max Verstappen’s crash with Oscar Piastri has not helped his workforce’s nervousness as they compete for the Constructors Championship on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
“That was the worst two hours of my life, by far,” Brown mentioned.
“Lando drove brilliantly. Unfortunate what happened to Oscar at the start, but the team was flawless. They executed the pit stop great.
“And I feel I used to be the one one who was able to have a coronary heart assault for about two hours.”
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