Lando Norris shed tears of joy as he clinched his first Formula 1 world championship title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Norris secured the championship by finishing third, edging out Max Verstappen by two points.
The British driver became the 35th world champion in F1 history, expressing his overwhelming emotions post-race. On the McLaren team radio, Norris expressed gratitude to his team, family, and fans for making his dream a reality, ending with tears of happiness.
McLaren team principal Zak Brown praised Norris and his teammate Oscar for their exceptional driving. Norris had a 12-point lead over Verstappen entering the Abu Dhabi race, following a missed opportunity in Qatar to secure the championship earlier.
Despite facing a stewards’ investigation during the race for an off-road driving incident, Norris avoided penalties. Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi race but fell short of overtaking Norris in the championship standings, with Norris finishing ahead of his teammate Piastri and Leclerc.
Norris’s victory marked a remarkable end to the season, with McLaren celebrating their driver’s achievement. The intense competition between Norris and Verstappen added suspense to the final races, culminating in a memorable championship win for Norris.
