Lando Norris has develop into Method 1 world champion for the primary time after ending third within the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The 26-year-old turns into Britain’s eleventh F1 world champion and is the primary McLaren driver to win the title since Lewis Hamilton in 2008.
Norris, on the finish of his seventh season on the high degree, ends Verstappen’s four-year reign on the high of the game with the Purple Bull driver’s extraordinary late-season title comeback falling a mere two factors brief after he dominated Sunday’s season finale to win the race.
Verstappen received from pole with Oscar Piastri, the opposite final-race title contender, second after passing team-mate Norris on the primary lap.
Nevertheless, third place was all the time going to be ample for Norris no matter his two rivals did.
In an emotional group radio message instantly after crossing the road, Norris stated: “Thanks guys, oh my God. You may have made my desires come true, thanks a lot.
“I love you guys. Thanks for everything, you deserve it. I love you mum, I love you dad. Thanks for everything. I’m not crying!”
Norris’ one nervy second within the race got here at the beginning of his second stint when, having pitted sooner than most different drivers on lap 16, he needed to overtake longer-running vehicles on older tyres.
They included Yuki Tsunoda within the second Purple Bull, with the Japanese driver handed a five-second penalty for forcing Norris off monitor because the Briton made his transfer down the backstraight. Norris was additionally investigated over the incident however cleared by stewards.
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Lando Norris got here off the monitor throughout his overtake on Yuki Tsunoda
A spirited drive from Charles Leclerc meant the Ferrari driver was a risk to Norris’ title-winning place for a lot of the race however finally completed over 5 seconds behind in fourth.
George Russell was fifth for Mercedes, who clinched second within the Constructors’ Championship, whereas Lewis Hamilton ended his tough first Ferrari season with a much-needed sturdy Sunday from sixteenth on the grid to eighth.
‘I did not assume I might cry however I did!’ – Norris holds nerve to grasp his dream
Whereas it has been Verstappen’s extraordinary late-season surge into title competition in opposition to the McLaren drivers that has gained most headlines in latest months, Norris had staged his personal spectacular restoration to return to the lead of the championship race heading into the marketing campaign’s decisive ultimate weeks.
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Lando Norris makes a sensational double overtake to clear site visitors on the Abu Dhabi GP
Norris had fallen a season-high 34 factors behind Piastri after the Dutch Grand Prix on the finish of August when he suffered a late mechanical drawback on his automobile – McLaren’s solely race-ending technical concern of the season – when operating second in that race to his team-mate.
However within the 9 grands prix that adopted, Sunday was solely the second time he had been overwhelmed by Piastri in a race. That sequence was headlined by dominant wins in Mexico and Brazil and, finally, by dealing with the strain of his first F1 title showdown to emerge nonetheless on high this weekend.
“I’ve not cried in a while! I didn’t think I would cry but I did!” stated the Briton in his post-race interview.
“It’s a long journey. First of all, I want to say a big thanks to my guys, everyone at McLaren, my parents – my mum, my dad – they are the ones who have supported me since the beginning.
“It feels wonderful. I now know what Max appears like a little bit bit! I wish to congratulate Max and Oscar, my two greatest opponents the entire season. It has been a pleasure to race in opposition to each of them. It has been an honour, I’ve realized lots from each.
“I’ve enjoyed it. It’s been a long year. We did it and I’m so proud for everyone.”
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Oscar Piastri requested Max Verstappen within the cool-down room about his race ways in the course of the race
After conducting celebratory ‘donuts’ on the start-finish straight after finishing his slow-down lap, Norris shared embraces along with his delighted mother and father, Cisca and Adam, after getting out of the automobile alongside along with his girlfriend, Margarida Corceiro.
He was additionally congratulated by Verstappen, Piastri and various different rivals earlier than the emotion – and clear aid, – at successful the crown clearly got here out in the course of the podium ceremony amid wild celebrations.
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