Lewis Hamilton has revealed the advice that he offered Lando Norris ahead of the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The McLaren driver went on to finish the race in third behind Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, which was enough to clinch his first championship title.
“I’m really, really happy for him,” Hamilton told the media after the race. “He did such a great job this season.”
The seven-time champion spoke with Norris ahead of the race and gave him some advice on dealing with the pressure of fighting for his first championship.
“I told him going into the weekend, just continue doing you. What you’ve been doing works, so don’t change it. Go into the weekend and just take it one corner at a time.
“Clearly, that’s what he did. Great to see another Brit win a championship. Awesome for the sport. It went right down to the last race. What more can you ask for?”
Norris’s championship is the first drivers’ title for McLaren since Hamilton’s first championship in 2008. “They won the championship last year, but drivers’ one, yes. It’s great to see McLaren back up there,” he added.
The McLaren driver made a noticeable mental turnaround during the season. After a reset during the summer break, he came back much stronger and seemed to handle the pressure with more ease.
When asked about Norris talking about mental health, Hamilton reiterated the importance of people showing vulnerability.
“I mean, I don’t know… I can’t really comment. I don’t know what he said, so I can’t really say much,” Hamilton said. “I think it’s great that people can show their vulnerability. It’s a real thing in today’s world. It should be taken seriously.”
Hamilton finished the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in eighth, which meant he ended his first season with Ferrari in sixth with 156 points, 86 points behind his new team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Photos from Abu Dhabi GP – Race
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Alexander Albon, Williams
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Jannik Sinner, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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George Russell, Mercedes
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Carlos Sainz, Williams
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Ana de Armas
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Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team, Alain Prost
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
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Start action
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Carlos Sainz, Williams
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Andrea Stella, McLaren, Zak Brown, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Andrea Stella, McLaren
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Zak Brown, McLaren
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Zak Brown, McLaren
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Zak Brown, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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