🔗 Share this article The British driver Lando Norris Secures Debut F1 Drivers' Crown in Yas Marina In Spite Of Max Verstappen's Race Win. Through an exhibition of nerveless driving, the McLaren driver has sealed his first Formula One world championship by achieving third place at the Yas Marina race. Third place was enough for the 26-year-old driver, even though his rival Max Verstappen finished first and his teammate at McLaren Oscar Piastri came home in second. He delivered exactly what was necessary in an enormously high-pressure race at the Yas Marina Circuit, featuring a series of bold overtakes, with impeccable work from both himself and his team. A Historic Achievement for Britain and The Team In taking his first world championship, Norris is now the eleventh driver from Britain to achieve this. It also brings to an end McLaren's drivers’ championship wait, which stretched back to 2008 when Lewis Hamilton was their last champion. Additionally, it had been 27 years since McLaren last secured the drivers’ and constructors’ double back in 1998. It signifies a remarkable resurgence for the Woking-based outfit, from a low point in the mid-2010s when they ended up ninth in the constructors’ championship. The comeback has been spearheaded by team principal Zak Brown and, most recently, by Andrea Stella, who has built an operationally sharp team with a very fast car. The new champion performs a victory donut after winning the world championship. A Tale of Two McLaren For the Australian Oscar Piastri, who had led the championship for much of the campaign, there was obvious disappointment at faltering in the closing stages. A series of poor performances and some errors, such as crashing out in Baku, proved costly. However, he emerges having demonstrated he is too world champion material. Being so fast in only his third year in F1, with multiple victories, remains very impressive. Max Verstappen too had been exceptional to force the fight down to the last race. The Dutchman did all he could in Abu Dhabi with the race victory, but having come back from a 104-point deficit mid-season, he fell just short of having enough to overhaul Norris, finishing just two points short. Closing it Out with Clinical Precision He secured his success with ruthless focus to win the championship that had been within reach but eluded him as McLaren found themselves floundering at the previous two races. First a DSQ in Las Vegas and then an questionable strategy call in Qatar. It was a significant achievement for the 26-year-old in his seventh year in F1, each one with McLaren. He stuck with the squad even during tough times, believing they would return to the top. That faith was rewarded in Abu Dhabi. Norris performed a remarkable job to stick at his task, maintaining his cool and confidence during periods under the cosh. After losing the lead to Piastri after Saudi Arabia, he still worked at maximising what he could. Norris chases down the Red Bull of another competitor during the race. The Decisive Race In the race, Verstappen held his first place through the first corner, but the main contenders avoided contact. Piastri, starting on the hard tyre, was feisty and made a brilliant move to go round the outside of Norris to take second place. It showed the McLarens were allowed to fight, but put Norris under threat from the Charles Leclerc. The first round pit visits saw Norris come out into traffic, but he overtook rivals within a lap and showed no signs of nerves in his driving. On lap 19, he made an incredibly bold move to overtake two cars in one swoop, climbing to fourth and catching Verstappen's teammate. The rival team told their driver to delay Norris, leading to a dramatic assault where Norris went up the inside line, almost leaving the track. This moment was investigated by the race officials, with several nerve-wracking laps elapsing before a time penalty for his rival and exoneration for Norris was decided. This bold move without being held up was crucial to his title fight. Diverging Fortunes While Norris became the first British driver to win the title since Lewis Hamilton in 2020, the difference in fortunes between the two was pronounced. As the young guns fought for the title, Hamilton, the grand champion, could only finish eighth place in Abu Dhabi, a disappointing conclusion to a dismal season with Ferrari. Making his debut with the Scuderia had been greeted with enthusiasm but has yielded what was easily his worst season ever, finishing sixth in the championship and failing to secure a podium. He has appeared jaded in the final rounds and will aim to reset over the winter. Lando Norris revels on his car after being crowned the title winner.
Through an exhibition of nerveless driving, the McLaren driver has sealed his first Formula One world championship by achieving third place at the Yas Marina race. Third place was enough for the 26-year-old driver, even though his rival Max Verstappen finished first and his teammate at McLaren Oscar Piastri came home in second. He delivered exactly what was necessary in an enormously high-pressure race at the Yas Marina Circuit, featuring a series of bold overtakes, with impeccable work from both himself and his team. A Historic Achievement for Britain and The Team In taking his first world championship, Norris is now the eleventh driver from Britain to achieve this. It also brings to an end McLaren's drivers’ championship wait, which stretched back to 2008 when Lewis Hamilton was their last champion. Additionally, it had been 27 years since McLaren last secured the drivers’ and constructors’ double back in 1998. It signifies a remarkable resurgence for the Woking-based outfit, from a low point in the mid-2010s when they ended up ninth in the constructors’ championship. The comeback has been spearheaded by team principal Zak Brown and, most recently, by Andrea Stella, who has built an operationally sharp team with a very fast car. The new champion performs a victory donut after winning the world championship. A Tale of Two McLaren For the Australian Oscar Piastri, who had led the championship for much of the campaign, there was obvious disappointment at faltering in the closing stages. A series of poor performances and some errors, such as crashing out in Baku, proved costly. However, he emerges having demonstrated he is too world champion material. Being so fast in only his third year in F1, with multiple victories, remains very impressive. Max Verstappen too had been exceptional to force the fight down to the last race. The Dutchman did all he could in Abu Dhabi with the race victory, but having come back from a 104-point deficit mid-season, he fell just short of having enough to overhaul Norris, finishing just two points short. Closing it Out with Clinical Precision He secured his success with ruthless focus to win the championship that had been within reach but eluded him as McLaren found themselves floundering at the previous two races. First a DSQ in Las Vegas and then an questionable strategy call in Qatar. It was a significant achievement for the 26-year-old in his seventh year in F1, each one with McLaren. He stuck with the squad even during tough times, believing they would return to the top. That faith was rewarded in Abu Dhabi. Norris performed a remarkable job to stick at his task, maintaining his cool and confidence during periods under the cosh. After losing the lead to Piastri after Saudi Arabia, he still worked at maximising what he could. Norris chases down the Red Bull of another competitor during the race. The Decisive Race In the race, Verstappen held his first place through the first corner, but the main contenders avoided contact. Piastri, starting on the hard tyre, was feisty and made a brilliant move to go round the outside of Norris to take second place. It showed the McLarens were allowed to fight, but put Norris under threat from the Charles Leclerc. The first round pit visits saw Norris come out into traffic, but he overtook rivals within a lap and showed no signs of nerves in his driving. On lap 19, he made an incredibly bold move to overtake two cars in one swoop, climbing to fourth and catching Verstappen's teammate. The rival team told their driver to delay Norris, leading to a dramatic assault where Norris went up the inside line, almost leaving the track. This moment was investigated by the race officials, with several nerve-wracking laps elapsing before a time penalty for his rival and exoneration for Norris was decided. This bold move without being held up was crucial to his title fight. Diverging Fortunes While Norris became the first British driver to win the title since Lewis Hamilton in 2020, the difference in fortunes between the two was pronounced. As the young guns fought for the title, Hamilton, the grand champion, could only finish eighth place in Abu Dhabi, a disappointing conclusion to a dismal season with Ferrari. Making his debut with the Scuderia had been greeted with enthusiasm but has yielded what was easily his worst season ever, finishing sixth in the championship and failing to secure a podium. He has appeared jaded in the final rounds and will aim to reset over the winter. Lando Norris revels on his car after being crowned the title winner.