The last Abu Dhabi grand prix won by the Dutchman decreed the triumph of the Englishman who precedes Max by only two points in the standings. The only thrill is the risk of a penalty for Norris after overtaking at Tsunoda. Leclerc fourth, Hamilton eighth
At the end of one of the most exciting World Cups of recent years Lando Norris wins the world title drivers with only two points ahead of Max Verstappen. In the end, Kimi Antonelli’s mistake in Doha in the penultimate grand prix of the season was decisive, allowing Norris to overtake the Italian Mercedes driver. Two more points that make all the difference in the world in a season dominated in the first part by Piastri and Mc Laren and which the Australian threw away allowing the comeback of Norris and above all Verstappen, even if Max, certainly the fastest driver on the circuit, did not manage the final blow.
Norris’s strategy
Norris needed third place and it was clear from the start that Mc Laren’s race strategy was to mark all the drivers which could call into question the third step of the podium. At the first corner Verstappen immediately put his nose in front of Norris, but the Englishman didn’t seem too worried, so much so that he left room for Piastri who overtook him. The Dutchman’s race was one-sided, no one ever came close, but Mc Laren finally thought as a team after risking throwing a World Cup that seemed already won in Zandvoort. The only thrill came from overtaking Verstappen in Tsunoda, the Mc Laren driver ended up with the car off the track and perhaps it wasn’t necessary. The penalty that was inflicted on Tsunoda would have also been deserved by Norris, but evidently the federation did not feel like deciding on a World Cup by default. And so Norris maintained the third place that earned him the World Championship without ever being threatened much by Leclerc who finished fourth with Ferrari. The last race also brought some satisfaction to the Maranello cars: Charles, already brilliant in fifth in qualifying, improved his starting position by finishing fourth while Hamilton, who this time too had been eliminated in Q1, made a good comeback and eventually obtained eighth place.
Lando’s happiness
“It’s been a while since I cried, I didn’t think I would, it’s been a long journey, I thank the team, my parents, I’m not crying. I look like a loser right now with the tears. It’s a fantastic feeling, now I know how Max feels, I congratulate him and Oscar, I learned a lot from both of them but we did it. You can’t help but think about the title during the race, I knew it would be a long one, I kept pushing until the last 2-3 laps, Max and Oscar didn’t make my life easy. What if I knew I was under investigation? I had no idea, but it wasn’t something to worry about. I’m happy for everyone, it’s crazy“. But you realize that you are world champion and they ask him: “It’s been 9 years with McLaren, we’ve been through difficult times, finally I can give something back to them, I’m proud of everyone I’m making cry right now.”
