Lando Norris dominated the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, leading from start to finish and securing McLaren’s first Formula One constructors’ title in 26 years
The Briton shone brightly as Australian teammate Oscar Piastri fell to the back of the field after a first-corner collision with Red Bull’s four-time world champion Max Verstappen. Piastri recovered to finish 10th, while Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc secured second and third, representing McLaren’s long-standing rivals and the only team capable of challenging them for the championship.
“You all deserve this. Thank you so much. It’s been a special year,” Norris said over the team radio after claiming his fourth win of the season. “Next year is going to be my year too.”
His 25 points, combined with Piastri’s single point, secured McLaren a 14-point lead over Ferrari, earning them their first constructors’ championship since 1998. Norris also ended the season as the overall runner-up.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton finished fourth in his final race for Mercedes, starting from 16th and overtaking teammate George Russell on the 58th and final lap.
Pierre Gasly secured seventh for Alpine, helping the team win their midfield battle and claim sixth overall in the standings. Nico Hulkenberg finished eighth for Haas, with Fernando Alonso taking ninth for Aston Martin.
McLaren became the first team in the current engine era, which began in 2014, to win the constructors’ title as a customer rather than a factory team.
EARLY DRAMA
The race started with chaos as Verstappen and Piastri collided, following McLaren’s front-row lockout in qualifying, with Verstappen starting fourth. Both cars spun while Norris had a flawless getaway from pole and surged ahead.
Verstappen called himself “super unlucky,” claiming he had taken the inside line into the first corner, though replays suggested he was at fault. Piastri sarcastically quipped, “Move of a world champion, that one,” before receiving his own 10-second penalty for rear-ending Franco Colapinto’s Williams.
Verstappen served his penalty on lap 30, dropping from third to 11th, and vented his frustration over the radio: “Could we ask for 20 seconds, stupid idiots,” referencing previous penalties he’d received in Mexico.
Leclerc recovered from 12th on the first lap to fourth by his lap 20 pit stop, with teammate Sainz steady in second and Russell trailing in third. The race turned into a strategic waiting game, as Ferrari hoped for a miracle to challenge Norris, while McLaren boss Zak Brown watched anxiously.
“Unfortunately, we started too far back to achieve more than we did. We gave it our all. Losing a close season hurts,” Leclerc reflected before the podium celebrations.
“That was the worst two hours of my life,” Brown admitted. “Lando carried us today. No mistakes, despite concerns about safety cars and everything else. He drove flawlessly.”
Norris pitted for hard tyres at the end of lap 26, maintaining his lead with a seamless stop faster than either Ferrari.
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez ended a dismal season with another retirement after a first-lap collision with Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas sent him spinning out. Red Bull team bosses are set to decide the Mexican driver’s future next week.
