Lando Norris was overcome with emotion as he clinched his first F1 world championship title. The McLaren driver secured third place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, edging out Max Verstappen by two points for the coveted crown.
In a historic moment for the sport, Norris became the 35th world champion, expressing his joy and relief after a tumultuous period. Upon crossing the finish line, he tearfully thanked his team, exclaiming, “You made my dreams come true, thank you so much. I love you guys, for everything. You deserve it. I love you mum, I love you dad. Thanks for everything. And now I’m crying!”
McLaren team principal Zak Brown celebrated the victory, acknowledging the challenging journey to success. Despite Verstappen’s strong finish in the last three races of the season, Norris maintained his lead with a 12-point margin over the Dutch driver heading into the Abu Dhabi showdown.
Although Norris faced scrutiny for a racing incident involving Yuki Tsunoda, the stewards cleared him of any wrongdoing. Verstappen’s race win in Abu Dhabi was not enough to derail Norris’ championship aspirations, with the McLaren driver securing third place ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
In the end, Norris’ consistency and determination paid off, crowning him the F1 world champion in a thrilling season finale.
