Lando Norris maintained faith he could deliver McLaren the Formula 1 title in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, despite doubt creeping in when Oscar Piastri was spun round.
Norris converted pole position into the race win at the Yas Marina Circuit to guarantee that McLaren bagged its first Constructors’ Championship success since 1998.
McLaren went into the showdown in a commanding position as it retained a 21-point advantage over Ferrari with Norris leading a front-row lockout with Oscar Piastri.
However, McLaren’s chances were hindered on the opening lap when Max Verstappen’s ambitious dive down Piastri’s inside at Turn 1 pitched the McLaren into a spin.
Carlos Sainz inheriting second place and Charles Leclerc’s remarkable climb from 18th to third meant the pressure was on Norris to sustain the lead over the Ferraris.
Norris admitted there was some concern when Piastri, who recovered to 10th, was turned around, but he was confident that he could earn the result McLaren needed.
“I’m very, very happy, just as I’m sure everyone in the team is,” Norris told media including Motorsport Week. “Today was a very special day for all of us.
“It was ours to lose today, and I’m sure at certain moments, people thought that it was not far away from being lost.
“You know, two Ferraris up there, and Charles did a great job to get back to the podium.
“Oscar was super unlucky, he got taken out in Turn 1, so for a minute, my heart was like, ‘oh God, it’s not looking as likely’.
“But if I just keep my head down and keep focused, I knew I could deliver and do what I’ve got to do. So that’s that.
“But the bigger picture of us winning a championship for the first time in 26 years, you wouldn’t have thought that when you say the name McLaren.
“It feels wrong to say that they’ve not won a championship in 25 years.
“But for me to be part of that, for Oscar to be part of it, is something we’re incredibly proud of.
“And delivering that for the team has put the biggest smiles possible on everyone’s face.
“This is the biggest reward you can give back to everyone who designs the car, builds the car, gets the partners, you know, everyone has played such a big part.
“So just proud, proud is my biggest thing. Of course, I’m happy I finished the season this way, but I’m just, I’m way more happy for the team than I am for myself.”
Norris denies win was straightforward
Norris utilised the slight pace advantage McLaren had held over Ferrari throughout the weekend to control the gap to Sainz and remain untroubled en route to the win.
But while it appeared a straightforward run once he kept the lead at the start, the Briton has claimed it was more tense in the cockpit than might have been envisaged.
“I was watching the TV screens and I mean, I saw Charles was P8 after Lap 1,” Norris recalled.
“So I was a little bit nervous, but I knew I just had to focus on myself, put my head down and Carlos was never far away.
“I think the biggest the gap was 4.2 seconds in the first 10 and that’s not a very nice gap in my opinion. It’s a bit too close for my comfort.
“So it was a tricky race and I’m sure there was probably a lot more nervous people on the pit wall and in the garage knowing what was at stake and things.
“I got the adrenaline of the car and focused on that.
“For them, they’re just sitting and watching the screens and they have a lot more time to think about what can go wrong and all of that.
“But yeah, a shame for Oscar. We really wanted to have a 1-2 today and finish and let McLaren be on top today as a team in a race, but also for a championship.
“I felt quite bad for him in the beginning. It wasn’t his fault, but he’s had a great year. So we’ll all celebrate together. I certainly am and I’ll have some fun.”
READ MORE – McLaren seal F1 Constructors’ title as Lando Norris wins Abu Dhabi GP
