Lando Norris was overcome with emotion as he clinched his first F1 world championship title. The British driver secured third place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, edging out Max Verstappen by a narrow two-point margin to claim the coveted title.

Norris, the 35th world champion in F1 history, expressed his joy and relief at winning the championship after a period of uncertainty. “Thank you guys… oh my god,” he exclaimed on the team radio after finishing the race. “You made my dreams come true, thank you so much. I love you guys, for everything. You deserve it. I love you mum, I love you dad. Thanks for everything. And now I’m crying!”

McLaren team principal Zak Brown praised Norris and teammate Oscar for their exceptional driving, celebrating their hard-fought victory. Norris had a 12-point lead over Verstappen before the Abu Dhabi race, having missed a chance to secure the championship earlier in Qatar.

Despite facing a stewards’ investigation during the race for a maneuver involving Yuki Tsunoda, Norris avoided penalties. While Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi race, securing more victories than any other driver in the season, his efforts were not enough to halt Norris’ championship charge.

Verstappen finished first, followed by Oscar Piastri, with Norris coming in third ahead of Charles Leclerc. The Dutch driver resisted the temptation to employ tactical strategies to challenge Norris’s position, allowing the McLaren driver to secure his championship victory.