Your support helps us tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to big tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the finances of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word,’ which shines a light on American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know the importance of analyzing the facts of messaging. .
At such a critical moment in American history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to continue sending journalists to tell both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to block Americans from our reporting and analysis with a paywall. We believe that quality journalism should be available to everyone, and paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes a difference.
This time there would be no second chance. Lando Norris was prone to lapses in judgment and concentration in the 2024 race, but here, with the 26-year-old coward solely in his hands, the Bristolian gave his beloved McLaren long awaited F1 constructors’ championship at the end of the season.
Norris, pole keeper and fastest man all weekend, kept clean and avoided trouble – where team-mate Oscar Piastri didn’t – to win Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and seal the papaya teams title. Ferrari did their best, with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc on the podium, but in the end a 14-point lead was enough.
The last time McLaren sealed the constructors’ championship, Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard were the drivers in the cockpit of the MP4/13 in 1998. Both were present here in Abu Dhabi as one of F1’s biggest teams ended its long wait in MCL38.
As for Lewis Hamiltonin his 246th and final race for Mercedes, the trademark charge through the field. Starting at 16, the seven-time world champion finished the greatest driver-team partnership in F1 history with a fourth-place finish, passing team-mate George Russell on the final lap with a stunning overtake.
After the checkered flag, he parked his car at the right house, waved to the crowd and said goodbye. Ferrari, and all the glamor that goes with it, waiting for Hamilton as he enters his 40s.
Russell finished fifth with Max Verstappen in sixth, as the world champion retired after a penalty for hitting Pjastri’s left rear wheel seconds into the race.
Piastri recovered to finish 10th, but no matter. His teammate provided the crowning moment.
“It feels amazing, not for me, but for the whole team,” Norris said. “It’s been a long journey and to end the season like this is perfect.
“To win the constructors Lando Norris holds his nerve to guide McLaren to F1 glory in Abu Dhabi after 26-year wait after 26 years is pretty special. Zak already said we’re going to be pretty pumped tonight!”
It ended ideally for McLaren, after a start that was far from it. The Yas Marina Circuit, with its short home straight, is not prone to first turn drama at lights out. But this year, with McLaren simply needing a clean break for both of its drivers, a Verstappen-shaped curveball opened up the title race.
The Dutchman went down the inside and cut into Pjastri, who turned and fell to the last. Fortunately, his McLaren was not irreversibly damaged, but the usually soft-spoken Aussie delivered his harsh verdict over the team radio.
“Yeah, that world champion move.”
Verstappen was duly handed a 10-second penalty, although Piastri himself received the same verdict from the stewards after colliding with the rear of Franco Colapinto, allowing Williams to pit.
Fortunately for the Zak Brown team and their fans watching at the McLaren Technology Center in Woking, Norris was unaffected by the first-lap shenanigans and led, comfortably, through the first stage of the 58-lap race.
The Brit fought in the 26th round. Would the mechanics hold their nerve? You bet he would. A two-second pit stop meant Norris rejoined the race still in P1, and with the fastest car on track, the Brit simply had to keep it error-free to hand McLaren their prized silver.
TOP 10 – ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX
1. Lando Norris (McLaren)
2. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
4. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
5. George Russell (Mercedes)
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
7. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
8. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
9. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
10. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
No ignoring yellow flags like last week in Qatar. No flirting with the walls like in Singapore. Norris was confident, collected and with a margin of eight seconds, he took the checkered flag for his fourth Formula 1 victory.
Staff dressed in orange on the pit wall. For a team in no man’s land at the start of the season, it was a brilliant turnaround from team principal Andrea Stella – ex-Ferrari – and his engineers.
Norris’ goal now, with a sense of longing for what could have been this year, will be an individual pursuit of a title, more complete and cooler than this topsy-turvy campaign. He even mentioned it on the team radio right after the race.
“This is our year,” he said. “And next year will be mine.”
The only problem for Norris is that there are plenty of drivers who will think exactly the same.