Lando Norris Leads McLaren to First Constructors' Championship in 26 Years

Posted : 08 December 2024

Lando Norris clinched McLaren's first Formula 1 constructors' championship in 26 years with a dominant victory at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Norris led the race from start to finish, securing his fourth win of the season and ensuring McLaren's triumph by 14 points, despite Ferrari’s strong finish with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc in second and third.

Leclerc's impressive recovery from 19th on the grid kept the pressure high, as a mishap with Norris' car could have allowed Ferrari to seize the title.

Lewis Hamilton finished his Mercedes career with a fourth-place finish, overtaking teammate George Russell in the final laps.

Hamilton celebrated by performing doughnuts on the pit straight and took a moment with his car before congratulating Norris and McLaren F1 boss Zak Brown.

He also offered words of comfort to Ferrari's Sainz and Leclerc, showing sportsmanship in his last race with the team.

McLaren's nerves were tested early in the race after Norris’ teammate, Oscar Piastri, was spun out by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the first corner. Verstappen received a 10-second penalty for the incident, which pushed Piastri to the back of the pack, leaving the championship hopes riding solely on Norris’ performance.

The tension intensified when Leclerc started his remarkable charge through the field, gaining 11 places on the first lap alone, including a sensational pass through the chicane.

Leclerc continued his surge, overtaking several cars including those of the Haas drivers and Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin. By lap 20, he had moved up to third place, and his pursuit of Norris and Sainz created an uncertain atmosphere for McLaren.

Despite his efforts, Leclerc was told that McLaren would still win the constructors' title as long as Norris held his ground. Norris, however, remained calm and collected, finishing six seconds ahead of Sainz to deliver McLaren’s long-awaited title victory.

McLaren’s triumph ends a title drought that stretches back to 1998, despite the team’s success in drivers’ championships, including Lewis Hamilton's 2008 title. The team's resurgence can be attributed to years of restructuring, which began with Zak Brown’s appointment as executive director in 2016 and accelerated under team principal Andrea Stella in 2022.

With Stella’s leadership, McLaren has emerged as the fastest team in F1, and as they head into 2025, they are positioned as one of the leading contenders for future titles. Norris, full of excitement, declared, “Next year's going to be my year, too,” as he celebrated the championship win.

Lando Norris Leads McLaren to First Constructors' Championship in 26 Years

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