Lando Norris produces Abu Dhabi GP masterclass as McLaren seal World Championship title | F1 | Sport
An exemplary drive from Lando Norris helped McLaren secure their first Constructors’ Championship title since 1998 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Brit led home Carlos Sainz to end Ferrari‘s charge in style.
Max Verstappen has dominated headlines heading into the season finale, and he was in the wars at Turn One on the opening lap. The Dutchman tagged Oscar Piastri after an audacious lunge up the inside, sending both drivers into a spin.
Verstappen picked up a 10-second time penalty as a result of the clash, all but ending his podium hopes, while Piastri’s race was ruined, shifting the responsibility for McLaren’s title fight onto the shoulders of race leader and polesitter Norris.
The reigning world champion’s team-mate also had a miserable opening lap. He was tagged by Valtteri Bottas and lost the clutch in the aftermath, ending what could be his final F1 race with a retirement.
Some of F1’s other departing stars were also denied fitting send-offs. Bottas went on to collide with Kevin Magnussen, shattering his right front wheel rim, while Franco Colapinto’s race, already hampered by an early puncture, was brought to a premature end by a power unit problem.
One of the major beneficiaries of the early chaos was Charles Leclerc. After a brief virtual safety car, the Monegasque racer climbed from the back of the grid to eighth, giving Ferrari a fighting chance in their battle with McLaren.
Unfortunately for Fred Vasseur’s team, Norris was unwavering at the front of the field. The McLaren driver set a furious pace, while Sainz and Leclerc were powerless to follow suit. Further back in the field, Lewis Hamilton was quietly setting up a late charge on fresh medium compound tyres after a long first stint on hards.
Despite being 14 seconds behind his team-mate after clearing Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly, Hamilton whittled down the gap and made the pass on George Russell around the outside of Turn Nine on the final lap to seal a remarkable comeback drive.
While for Hamilton, all eyes will be on his first season with Ferrari in 2025, for his future colleague Leclerc it was heartbreak in the present. The 27-year-old was disconsolate after the chequered flag, his comeback drive ruled obsolete by Norris’ commanding win.
