Lando ‘No-wins’ secures biggest victory of them all

LANDO Norris claimed his maiden drivers’ championship yesterday to complete McLaren's first title double since 1998 with a perfectly judged drive to finish third behind Red Bulls winner Max Verstappen and teammate Oscar Piastri.

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A tearful Norris won the title by two points ahead of Verstappen, who relinquished his crown after four consecutive years, in a tense and emotional season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix dominated by strategy and tactics.

After crossing the line his team engineer told him: “That's it mate, you are world champion, world champion!”

“Thank you guys, you made a kid’s dream come true,” he replied.

“I haven't cried in a while, I didn't think I would cry but I did,” Norris said, on the podium in the desert night at the floodlit Yas Marina circuit.

“I want to thank my mom, my dad, they've supported me since the beginning. It feels amazing, I know now what Max feels like a little bit. I want to congratulate both Max and Oscar, I've enjoyed it, it’s been a long year!” he added.