Lando Norris wins dramatic Abu Dhabi GP to deliver McLaren first constructors’ title in 26 years
While Norris won the season-ending race ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, fellow Briton Lewis Hamilton additionally finished fourth in what was his final race for Mercedes, with the seven-time Formula 1 world champion set to join Ferrari next season.
Lando Norris coolly claimed victory in a tense, emotional and incident-filled Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday to deliver McLaren’s first constructors’ championship in 26 years as Lewis Hamilton finished a remarkable fourth in his final race for Mercedes.
The 25-year-old Norris came home 5.832 seconds ahead of Carlos Sainz and his team-mate Charles Leclerc to end Ferrari’s title challenge on a night of accidents, penalties and tantrums under the floodlights at the Yas Marina Circuit.
“Papaya on top!” said Norris on his slowdown lap after the season-closing race.
“Congrats to everyone. Incredible. So proud of you all. You all deserve this. It’s been a special one. Next year is going to be my year too.”
McLaren had not won the teams’ title since 1998, the year before Norris was born, and started the day with a lead of 21 points and a front row lockout, but saw Oscar Piastri sent spinning in a clash with newly-crowned four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull at the first corner.
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