Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
A new world champion in Formula 1. A thrilling end to the season in Abu Dhabi. And ironically, the absence of a safety car at the Yas Marina Circuit meant Lando Norris could safely lay hands on the drivers’ championship trophy.
At the climax race, the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Norris had to weave in and out of traffic, mix caution and aggression, and plan his pit stop in preserving a lead of 12 points over Max Verstappen going into the race.
Though it was Verstappen who finished first in the race, Norris came in third, a spot behind his teammate Oscar Piastri, but it was enough for the consistent Briton, who immediately had a street named after him in Somerset, UK.
His success also sealed the team’s first double of drivers’ and constructors’ titles since 1998. Norris was so emotional that he came late to the media interaction and still struggled for words just as he did after crossing the finish line.
“It’s insane! And I don’t know how to say it, or even if I want to say it yet. Maybe I’ll say it, but not until tomorrow,” he said.
“It is pretty surreal. I dreamed of this for a long, long time — everyone does — and a lot goes into a season like this ... but none of that matters if you try to come out on top.
“I’ve not cried in a while, and I didn’t think I would cry, but I did. It’s a long journey, and first, I want to say a big thanks to my guys, everyone at McLaren, and my parents. I now know what Max feels like! I want to congratulate Max and Oscar, my two biggest competitors the whole season.”
In the history of F1, there had been only eight times that three or more drivers have been in contention and only twice that the leader managed to win. Norris improved on that tally to make it three as he ensured that a 12-race win in 153 starts converted to a world title with his parents and girlfriend in the paddock.
Norris did not have it easy, though. There was much talk about McLaren’s internal policy — “Papaya Rules” which provide both drivers with equal opportunity — facing the ultimate test with Verstappen so close in the rearview mirror of Norris.
And Piastri rocked the boat at the start itself, overtaking Norris in the opening lap to go into second, a noticeable move while on hard tyres compared to the softs of Norris. Brown told the broadcasters that he “was not surprised to see that” during the ninth lap, when Lewis Hamilton pitted his Ferrari early and dumped his soft tyres to get a better position in the traffic.
Norris also pitted early to shake off George Russell, who could potentially pose an immediate threat from fourth position. It meant he restarted in the ninth and inched up to fourth, including a double overtaking move.
There was more drama left ahead as Norris in third, was Verstappen’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda, holding up the path with his slow pace that has cost him the F1 seat for the 2026 season. But in stalling Norris, he tried to hold on to any advantage Verstappen could get and hoped things would get messy at the back.
Norris navigated it carefully and then overtook Tsunoda brilliantly from the left kerb, even as Tsunoda weaved one time to scare him off. The latter escaped with a potential penalty.
Victories in six out of the past nine Grands Prix after the Netherlands, and rivals McLaren slipping up for various issues, meant Verstappen loomed large as a threat. But he fell agonisingly two points short.
“I feel good. I was already prepared for this kind of outcome, because we needed a bit of luck to win,” Verstappen said. “We optimised the weekend perfectly. We put it on pole, we won the race in dominant fashion, I think, so there is nothing really that you can say about that.
“It looks painful, [losing by two points], but on the other hand, if you look from where we were in Zandvoort, more than 100 behind, then I think it’s not too bad.”
