Abu Dhabi GP: Lando Norris wins F1 finale as McLaren triumph

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- Lando Norris won a nervy Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to clinch McLaren its first constructors' championship since 1998.

Norris controlled the race from pole position to secure the race victory McLaren needed, but drama behind blew the fight with Ferrari wide open.

Ferrari kept the British team sweating all the way until the end, with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc finishing second and third, but Norris was faultless out in front.

"Woooohoooohooo! Congrats everyone," Norris said on the radio after the race. "Incredible. Well done everyone, so proud of you all. Thank you so much, it's been a special year."

Norris then signed off with: "Next year's going to be my year too."

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With the result, McLaren won the title by 13 points.

The championship caps a breakthrough six-win season after just one race victory in the preceding 12 years.

Norris said afterwards: "It feels incredible, not for myself but for the whole team, they've done an amazing job this year to come from where we were at the beginning. I am so proud of everyone, it's been a lovely journey and to end the season like this is perfect.

"Congrats and a big thank you to everyone in McLaren, everyone in papaya, everyone who has supported us this year, it's been a tough one and for us to win a constructors' after 26 years is pretty special."

On the drivers' championship next year, he said: "It's my goal and our goal to win a drivers' [title] next year, I've made my mistakes this year but I've learnt a lot and I've learnt a lot from Max [Verstappen and my competitors around me so as much as I'm happy now, I'm excited to get next year going."

Behind the top three, Lewis Hamilton caught and passed teammate George Russell with a superb overtake on the final lap of his historic Mercedes career to finish fourth.

Hamilton will replace Sainz at Ferrari next season.

"Forza Ferrari," Sainz said on the radio after the race. "It's been a pleasure."

McLaren had been strong championship favourites ahead of the contest, having locked out the front row on Saturday night.

That comfortable position was shattered on Lap 1, when Max Verstappen speared into Norris' teammate, Oscar Piastri, on Turn 1, sending both into a spin.

"Yep, move of a world champion that one," Piastri said sarcastically on the radio afterward. Verstappen clinched his fourth drivers' championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix last month.

That incident, and a 10-second penalty for a clumsy collision with Franco Colapinto on the following lap, dropped Piastri down the order.

Adding to McLaren's nervy situation was Leclerc gaining 11 places at the start.

His rise was helped by the Piastri and Verstappen incident and a collision between Red Bull's Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas.

That incident prompted Pérez to retire from the race on the next lap, which could be the final act of his Red Bull career; sources told ESPN the Mexican driver will not race for the team in 2025.

After the pit stops, Sainz and Leclerc were second and third, but Norris had pace in hand to eke out his advantage once again after pitting a lap later than his former teammate.

Piastri climbed back to 10th, which pays a single position, but McLaren would have lost the title had Norris ceded the lead late on.

The threat of drama lingered over the end; it was at the same circuit in 2021 when a late safety car threw open the showdown between Verstappen and Hamilton. But Norris was faultless and secured the fourth win of his season and F1 career.