Lando Norris won the Formula One championship Sunday. Third place at Abu Dhabi was enough. Max Verstappen’s four-year reign—over.
The 26-year-old cried. Actually sobbed. First inside his helmet on the slowing down lap, then again talking to reporters. “I’ve not cried in a while. I didn’t think I would cry but I did,” he said. Final points: Norris 423, Verstappen 421, Oscar Piastri 410.
Verstappen won Sunday’s race at Yas Marina circuit. Piastri came second, 12.5 seconds back at the chequered flag. Didn’t matter. Red Bull’s driver needed Norris off the podium completely. That wasn’t happening.
Five titles in a row would’ve matched Michael Schumacher. Ferrari’s great is still the only one to do it. “The way we fought back in the second half of the season, we can be really, really proud of that,” Verstappen told his team on the radio after. He’d been 104 points behind Piastri end of August. Some comeback. Just not enough.
“I’m definitely not disappointed. I’m really proud of everyone for not giving up.”
McLaren secured the constructors’ title back in October. Second year running. Both championships in one season—first time since 1998. Britain’s 11th world champion at age 26.
Norris’s mother Cisca hugged Piastri. Consoling hug really, the Australian finishing third overall. Both Verstappen and Piastri congratulated Norris after. Proper sportsmanship that.
“It’s not just this year or the last seven or eight years I’ve been with McLaren, but the last 16 or 17 years of my life trying to chase this dream. Today we all did it, so I’m pretty happy,” Norris said.
Pretty happy. Understatement of the year probably.
Race nearly derailed early
Verstappen led from the start. Norris held second initially but Piastri—running hard tyres while most of the top 10 started on mediums—overtook on lap one. Suddenly Norris was third with Charles Leclerc right there. Jeopardy.
Norris pulled out of DRS range, managing his tyres. Pitted lap 19, same time as Leclerc. Rejoined ninth. Tsunoda leading a train of traffic ahead. Threat.
But Norris overtook four cars quick succession. Then came the Tsunoda moment.
“Do all you can when he catches,” Red Bull told their Japanese driver. Tsunoda replied “I know what to do, leave it to me.”
Norris scythed past Tsunoda. Went wide onto the dirt as Tsunoda moved twice defending. That earned Tsunoda a five second penalty. Stewards cleared Norris of gaining an advantage leaving the track.
Verstappen pitted lap 24—right after Norris got past his teammate—trying to hand the lead to Piastri. Leclerc took a second stop lap 40. Norris followed, taking a second set of hards. Piastri finally ended his mighty opening stint, switched to mediums lap 42.
Piastri rejoined second, 24.5 seconds behind Verstappen who’d passed him before the stop. Norris third. Safe.
The race settled from there. Just had to bring it home. He did.
Charles Leclerc fourth for Ferrari. George Russell fifth, Mercedes. Fernando Alonso sixth, Aston Martin. Esteban Ocon seventh for Haas.
Lewis Hamilton eighth. Ferrari’s seven-times champion failed to stand on the podium all year. Career low for the 40-year-old in his first season with the Italian team after leaving Mercedes.
Nico Hulkenberg ninth for Sauber—the German’s 250th race. Lance Stroll 10th, Aston Martin.
“It feels amazing. I now know what Max feels like a little bit,” Norris said. “I want to congratulate Max and Oscar, my two biggest competitors the whole season. It’s been a pleasure to race against both of them. It’s been an honour, I’ve learned a lot from both.”
The nervy performance at the floodlit Yas Marina circuit delivered. McLaren’s campaign—eight wins from Verstappen this season couldn’t stop them. The whole season built to this. Joy and relief for Norris. Tears too. Lots of them.
Red Bull’s Dutch driver showed class in defeat. The new world champion showed emotion in victory. The Australian teammate showed what two biggest competitors can achieve when they push each other.
Britain celebrates. McLaren celebrates. First time winning both titles same season since the constructors’ championship became a thing they could win twice in a row starting October of last year.
Norris is world champion. Age 26. Third place Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Sunday. Done.
