Lando Norris secured his maiden Formula One world drivers’ championship on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, ending Max Verstappen’s four-year dominance of the sport.
The 26-year-old clinched the title by just two points after finishing third in the season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit, behind race winner Verstappen and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. The final standings saw Norris edge Verstappen 423 to 421.
“That’s it, mate, you are world champion, world champion!” his team engineer said over the radio.
“Thank you guys, you made a kid’s dream come true,” Norris responded, visibly emotional. “I haven’t cried in a while. I didn’t think I would cry, but I did. I want to thank my mum and dad—they’ve supported me from the start. I want to congratulate both Max and Oscar; it’s been a long year!”
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McLaren, already crowned back-to-back constructors’ champions in Singapore last month, celebrated another landmark season. CEO Zak Brown praised the drivers: “What an effort, Lando and Oscar, what a fantastic season!”
Norris becomes Britain’s first F1 world champion since Lewis Hamilton in 2020 and delivers McLaren its 13th drivers’ title, a legacy that began with Emerson Fittipaldi in 1974.
Reflecting on his journey, Norris said: “Anything can happen in this sport, so I kept pushing to the end. [Verstappen and Piastri] made it tough, but I’m proud of what I’ve achieved with McLaren after nine years with the team.”
Piastri, who had led the championship for much of the season, finished third in the final standings. Sunday’s finale marked the first time the F1 title had been contested by more than two drivers since 2010.