British driver Lando Norris was overwhelmed with emotion as he clinched his first Formula 1 world championship title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Norris secured the championship by finishing third in the race, edging out Max Verstappen by a mere two points.
Expressing his gratitude on the McLaren team radio, Norris tearfully thanked his team for making his dreams a reality. He also dedicated his victory to his parents amidst tears of joy. McLaren team principal Zak Brown praised Norris and his teammate Oscar for their outstanding performance.
Despite facing a steward’s investigation for an incident with Yuki Tsunoda, Norris escaped penalty and maintained his lead over Verstappen. Verstappen, who won the final three races of the season, could not surpass Norris in the overall standings.
In a tense race where Verstappen won from pole position, Norris held onto third place to secure the championship, with Oscar Piastri finishing second. Verstappen chose not to engage in disruptive tactics, allowing Norris to maintain his position and claim the coveted title.