Lando Norris clinched the Drivers’ Championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, becoming the 11th British racer to achieve this feat. Heading into the race weekend, Norris held a 12-point lead over Max Verstappen, the defending champion, with his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri also in contention, trailing Verstappen by four points.
Despite missing out on an earlier opportunity to secure the title in Qatar due to a strategic error by McLaren, Norris faced high stakes in Abu Dhabi. Qualifying saw Norris secure second place on the grid, just behind Verstappen and ahead of Piastri.
During the race, Norris initially lost a position to Piastri but faced pressure from Charles Leclerc. Following a strategic pit stop to avoid being undercut, Norris found himself in a tight battle with Yuki Tsunoda, eventually overtaking him after a penalty was imposed on Tsunoda for weaving on the track.
As Norris navigated through the race, he managed to build a comfortable lead over Leclerc, while Piastri opted for a different tire strategy. With Leclerc closing in towards the end, Norris maintained his lead with a controlled drive, ultimately crossing the finish line to claim the championship victory.
This victory marked the culmination of a seven-year journey in Formula 1 for Norris, restoring British motorsport to the pinnacle of success.