Lando Leads McLaren to Historic F1 Championship Win

Lando Norris delivered a masterclass in Abu Dhabi, securing McLaren’s first constructors’ title since 1998, ending a 26-year drought.

Lando Norris’s fourth victory of the season in Abu Dhabi was decisive, securing McLaren F1 the constructors’ title, their first since 1998. The British driver managed the race events flawlessly throughout the Grand Prix, but beyond his personal joy, he was especially delighted to bring such happiness to the entire team.

“I am very, very happy, as I’m sure everyone in the team is. It was a very special day for all of us. We had everything to lose, and I’m sure at certain moments, people thought it was close to slipping away. Both Ferraris were very fast, and Charles did a great job coming back onto the podium. Oscar was unlucky; he got taken out at Turn 1. For a moment, my heart was racing, but I knew that if I kept my head down and stayed focused, I could do what needed to be done.”

“The fact that we’ve won a championship for the first time in 26 years isn’t something you’d associate with the name McLaren in recent years. For me and Oscar, it’s something we’re incredibly proud of. Giving this to the team has put the biggest smile on everyone’s faces. It’s the greatest reward we could give to all those who designed the car, built it, and secured the partners. Everyone played such a key role, and I feel proud. Pride is what matters most to me. Of course, I’m happy to have finished the season this way, but I’m far happier for the team than for myself.”

While McLaren F1 ultimately won the championship, things could have gone wrong from the start when Oscar Piastri was spun around by Max Verstappen, forcing him to restart from the back of the grid, just as Charles Leclerc delivered an outstanding opening lap. Norris admits the situation was far from ideal, but he remained focused on his own race.

“I was watching the TV screens and saw that Charles was eighth after the first lap, so I was a bit nervous! But I knew I had to focus on myself, keep my head down, and Carlos was never far away. I think the biggest gap in the first stint was 4.2 seconds. So, it was a tricky race, and I’m sure there were far more nervous people on the pit wall and in the garage, knowing what was at stake. For them, they’re just sitting there watching screens, with much more time to think about what could go wrong and all that. But yes, it’s a shame for Oscar. We really wanted a one-two, and I felt bad for him at the start. It wasn’t his fault. But he’s had a great year, so we’ll all celebrate together. That’s what I’m going to do. And we’re going to have fun.”

Constant Pressure from Carlos Sainz

At the start of the second stint, Carlos Sainz closed to within two seconds of his rival and friend Norris, with the latter admitting the Ferrari driver’s pressure was intense.

“It was tough. I mean, I knew he had probably pushed out of the pit lane to try and catch me. I didn’t have the best out-lap. I started struggling with the tires. And as Carlos said, one tire set, its performance, and how it works on our car—that’s all it takes for them to be quicker than me. I think in the first stint, Carlos was probably the fastest. Dirty air is painful, even at three or two seconds. Doing that for an entire stint and staying that close is impressive. So, I knew he was very quick.”

“But throughout the season, we’ve always been stronger on harder tires. Simply changing tires and altering the characteristics of a tire can make one team the fastest and us the fastest. It just shows how quickly and easily things can change.”

Now a Favorite to Win the Drivers’ Title in 2025?

Alongside clinching the constructors’ title, Lando Norris secured second place in the drivers’ championship at Yas Marina. Could this be a sign of things to come for the 2025 season, with his team potentially emerging as early favorites? On the radio, he declared: “Next year, it’s my turn too.”

“I don’t believe in many things, but the one thing I’ve probably learned this year is to believe in myself a bit more. I certainly haven’t come out on top as often as I would have liked in certain moments as a driver, especially in my battles with Max. Even though it hurts sometimes, I’m probably happy knowing that I’ll go into next season knowing I can fight. I know myself better than anyone else and know exactly what I need to improve, where I’m not strong enough, and where I am. I’m always open to criticism and that sort of thing. But ultimately, I know myself best, don’t I? I’m not arrogant or selfish, but I understand I have a lot to improve in many areas and on certain things.”

“I feel like I’ve already made significant progress in that regard over the last three, four, or five races. I feel like I’ve delivered some very strong results. But overall, next year will, I hope, be a year where I can decide before the first race that we’re going to fight for the championship. We’ve never thought about that before. We’ve never even felt it—from the team’s perspective or mine as a driver. So, I hope next year will be that year. Obviously, there’s a lot of work to do, and Ferrari will push hard. But that’s for another year. For now, I’ll simply celebrate with my team and enjoy what they deserve.”