Lando Norris secured his maiden F1 World Championship on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, prompting his on-track rivals to hurry to congratulate him on his exceptional achievement. It is what each Formulation 1 driver needs for, and so they all got here collectively on this distinctive event to reward the Briton.
He turned the fourth champion on the present grid, becoming a member of an unique membership that features Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, with the Dutchman dropping out on successful his fifth consecutive title by simply two factors.
He endured crashes, tense intra-team battles and a mighty comeback by the Dutchman on his strategy to changing into McLaren’s first victor since Hamilton again in 2008, taking third place on the Yas Marina Circuit to seal the title.
Childhood rival George Russell, who continues to be ready for his first alternative to get caught right into a championship struggle, took to social media to share a photograph of the pair of their junior days, displaying how far they’ve each come.
He additionally added: “I wish to want congratulations to Lando as he turns into World Champion. We’ve raced collectively for thus lengthy and he’s greater than deserving of the title. Hopefully we are able to do battle on monitor subsequent yr for the 2026 crown!”
“Congratulations to Lando too,” his Mercedes staff mate Kimi Antonelli stated. “He deserves it but in addition properly performed to each Max and Oscar Piastri who’ve additionally been sensible this yr. It was an important battle all yr.”
Carlos Sainz, Norris’ former staff mate on the Woking outfit, additionally shared a compilation of the years they’ve spent competing in opposition to one another in F1, captioning the Instagram submit: “Large congratulations to @lando on his first Drivers’ Championship! He’s an unbelievable driver and he has confirmed which you can obtain your highest objectives staying true to your self! Congrats my muppet buddy! Properly deserved!”
Talking after the race, the Spaniard informed Sky Sports activities F1: “I am very joyful for him as a driver as a result of I feel he is all the time been an especially fast driver, faster than individuals give him credit score for, and intensely proficient since I labored with him at McLaren. I noticed a man that had the pace to be a a number of World Champion if it was purely down to hurry.
“I feel alongside the best way he is developed numerous his expertise and now he is World Champion. Greater than something, I am joyful for him as an individual as a result of I feel he is a driver that does not comply with the standard stereotype of a World Champion.
“I feel he is all the time stayed very true to himself, very sincere, very open about his personal struggles. He is simply confirmed to everybody which you can even be World Champion being a very good man and that open. You do not should be ruthless or badass to point out to everybody which you can be World Champion so I am joyful for him.”
Because the fireworks went off over the Yas Marina Circuit, Hamilton walked into Norris’ post-race interview to say “I informed you!” with a smile in a heartwarming second, with each drivers now capable of name themselves champions with McLaren.
There have been additionally phrases of congratulations from Norris’ 2025 title rivals, with Verstappen hoping the Briton enjoys the second.
“Profitable your first title is one thing that I feel all of us dreamt of while you get into the game,” the four-time World Champion stated. “You’re employed for that because you’re a little bit child. It’s what you dream of.
“So, while you win your first title, that is very emotional. And, yeah, I hope for Lando as properly. You understand, I noticed numerous his household is right here, so it’s necessary to take pleasure in this lots as properly tonight. Additionally, together with his staff.
“I feel, once more, that’s one other story the place it confirmed that even when you could have robust years, while you preserve working arduous, you retain including good individuals to the staff, you may overcome all of these issues, and you’ll develop into very profitable once more. And, yeah, that they had an unbelievable season collectively, so it’s necessary that they take pleasure in it.”
As for Norris’ staff mate and fellow title rival Piastri, who had led the championship himself for giant parts of the season, the Australian additionally had nothing however phrases of reward for the brand new champion.
“I feel a really deserving winner,” he stated when requested to offer his ideas on Norris’ achievement. “I do know that each weekend I am going on monitor, it’s going to be robust. And I feel we’ve pushed one another via the final three years.
“I feel, particularly this season, [it] has been tighter than ever. So, yeah, I feel he’s had an important season. In all probability all three of us, however clearly, myself and Lando in the identical staff, in the identical automobile, have had our ups and downs at totally different moments. In the end, I feel he’s had a very good season and a deserving champion.”
