Lando Norris wiped tears from his eyes through his open visor as the new world champion and exclaimed: ’We did it.’
A lifetime’s hopes and a million doubts were banished in Abu Dhabi. The fireworks lit the night sky and he performed doughnuts on the straight.
It was a simple equation but a testing one going into this decider. Finish third and Norris, 26, would be champion no matter whether Max Verstappen won – as he did, with Oscar Piastri, also starting in the title fight, second in the other McLaren.
And third place is what he managed to do in a race of little see-sawing action – though there was an acutely nervous period as the stewards sat in judgment after Norris had detoured off the track while on attack in the middle of the race.
Even if the action was well-manicured by a faultless McLaren, it was still a day of stomach-churning tension. Someone even threw up on the grid, and a black towel covered the spot right where Norris would drive over a few minutes later.
First, the three title contenders stood on the grid together as the UAE national anthem was played. In front of them stood the world championship trophy over which they would fight.
Verstappen, on pole, lined up his wheels inclined towards Norris, on his left and starting second. Inclined is too weak a word. It was a tank on Norris’ lawn. Or a fist pulled back ready to land. Verstappen was well away and moved aggressively across his pal’s path and then slightly right as Norris sniffed where best to be going into that first left-hander.
Both had driven well in those early exchanges.
Yet, there was a hint of caution to Norris, though, and his Piastri, 16 points off the lead himself, exploited it with a fabulous move on the outside of Turn 9. Norris then lost time to Piastri as Charles Leclerc piled the pressure on him. He held off Leclerc’s thrusts and remained third.
The hairiest moment of the race and of the season – and indeed in determining Norris’s reputation – came when he emerged from his first pit stop. He had been lying second as he entered and came out in ninth place.
How would he navigate the traffic in front of him and the threat of Leclerc behind him? The Ferrari was fast and he would not want to risk the red car closing on him, asking questions.
He needed to clear those ahead of him. First, Kimi Antonelli was left for dust on the inside of Turn 5 – the spot where Hamilton was passed here four years of infamy ago. Then, Williams’ Carlos Sainz was gobbled up. Both on lap 18.
Next, a great double pass on Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson. Now you see me, you don’t.
Danger ahead lurked ahead, though. This was in the form of Yuki Tsunoda, Verstappen’s team-mate. He had been shod on hards to stay out and do a job for Verstappen.
His orders were similar to those issued to Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s then team-mate when he won the title in 2021. The Mexican did it brilliantly, earning the nickname Minister of Defence. Would there be cabinet promotion for the Japanese driver this time?
Over the radio came the reminder of his responsibilities to the team for whom he was making his final appearance. He was told Norris was closing and told: ‘All you can.’
‘I know what I have to do so leave it to me,’ he assured them.
Now, the Minister of Defence had repelled Hamilton for a couple of laps, expertly marshalling old rubber, too. Tsunoda was certainly aggressive as Norris approached and the Briton was forced on to the turquoise-painted verge of the track. All four wheels went off.
Who was to blame?
The stewards’ investigation flashed up: two incidents. One) driving another driver off the track. Two) leaving the track and gaining an advantage. The first, applied to Tsunoda; the second to Norris.
The stewards took what seemed like an age to determine culpability. It was about six laps or 10 minutes’ wait. To the relief of the McLaren pit wall and most of the British sporting public, the finger of blame pointed at the little Red Bull hitman. Tsunoda was handed a five-second penalty for weaving. Norris was clear and safe in third place.
Piastri was leading on his fatigued tyres, having been put on hard rubber, with Verstappen second. That changed on lap 41, Verstappen breezing past the Australian, who pitted the next lap, coming out ahead of Norris, who had stopped a second time to cover off Leclerc, with 18 laps remaining.
What could possibly happen? Verstappen was 24 seconds ahead of Piastri with Norris five behind him and Leclerc in fifth?
Well, with Verstappen’s advantage greater than the 21 seconds it takes to get in and out of the pits, why not call him in? That would have brought him out closer to his pursuers and then the old blocking routine would have been open to him.
Red Bull did not go that route, bafflingly.
Verstappen’s mind was on what was happening behind him? Leclerc was the only man who could snatch the crown off Norris.
‘Is Charles catching him or not?’ he asked of his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase.
‘About equal pace,’ he was told. So we were on for a fairly routine conclusion. Would a tyre burst? Would an engine blow?
That looked about all that could happen to change the destiny of the title. Norris only had to keep his eyes open to do it. Which he did until the tears rolled.
Read more
- How did Max Verstappen clinch his fourth F1 world title amidst a riveting showdown with Lando Norris?
- Can McLaren’s Lando Norris hold his nerve and finish third in Abu Dhabi to secure the title, or will Max Verstappen’s relentless pursuit crush their dreams?
- Why did Lando Norris and McLaren fall short in their thrilling battle against Verstappen for the championship crown?
- Did the FIA’s bombshell decision on Red Bull’s gadget shatter Verstappen’s title hopes, giving McLaren’s Norris the lead he needs?
- How did Lando Norris manage to fend off reigning champion Max Verstappen for his exhilarating victory?
