Lando Norris secured his place in history by clinching the Drivers’ Championship title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, making him the 11th British driver to achieve this feat. The 26-year-old entered the race weekend as the championship leader, holding a 12-point lead over Max Verstappen, the reigning champion. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, was also in contention, trailing Verstappen by four points.
Despite missing the chance to win the championship in Qatar due to a strategic error by McLaren, Norris faced intense pressure in Abu Dhabi. His path to victory was clear: a podium finish would crown him world champion. Qualifying saw Norris qualify in second place, just behind Verstappen and ahead of Piastri.
During the race, Norris had a strong start but was passed by Piastri early on. He then had to fend off pressure from Charles Leclerc, who displayed impressive race pace for Ferrari. Norris made a strategic pit stop to avoid being undercut by rivals and emerged ahead of Leclerc after decisive moves through the field.
A pivotal moment arose when Tsunoda, Verstappen’s teammate, was penalized for aggressive defending, allowing Norris to make a crucial overtake. As Norris extended his lead over Leclerc, Piastri maintained a steady pace on his hard tires. McLaren reacted by bringing Norris in for a safe pit stop, ensuring his advantage was maintained.
In the closing laps, Leclerc closed in on Norris, but the British driver managed his tire wear well to keep a comfortable gap. With a flawless performance, Norris crossed the finish line to claim the championship title, marking the culmination of his seven-year journey in Formula 1 and restoring British motorsport to the pinnacle of success.