Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Lando Norris coolly claimed victory in a tense, emotional, and incident-filled Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday to deliver McLaren’s first constructors’ championship in 26 years as Lewis Hamilton finished a remarkable fourth in his final race for Mercedes.
“Papaya on top!” said Norris on his slowdown lap after the season-closing race. “Congrats to everyone. Incredible. So proud of you all. You all deserve this. It’s been a special one. Next year is going to be my year too.”
McLaren Ends 26-Year Constructors’ Championship Drought
McLaren had not claimed the teams’ championship since the year before Norris’s birth, 1998, and went into the race with a 21-point advantage, having locked out the first row. However, it quickly spiraled out of control with the clash at the first corner when Oscar Piastri was spun across, courtesy of Max Verstappen of Red Bull who was newly crowned for the fourth time in successive seasons.
Early in the race, Verstappen moved up to take inside Piastri on Turn One and they made contact, resulting in both cars spinning through. Verstappen quickly returned to the race in 11th and Piastri slid back to 20th. The incident cost him dearly because he went on to receive a 10-second penalty for his “dive bomb” maneuver.
Sergio Perez’s season ended on a sour note when he got himself spun out at Turn Six after contact with Valtteri Bottas’s Sauber. Charles Leclerc showed a brilliant opening lap performance, moving from the 19th grid slot to eighth by lap 1.
Strategic Pit Stops Shake Up the Running Order
McLaren held the advantage as the race wore on, with Norris holding over Sainz by 2.7 seconds. As the pressure increased, though, Norris managed his lead effectively and a strategic pit stop put Sainz behind him for good, after 26 laps.
Hamilton started his comeback from 16th on the grid with strategic pit stops and clever race management. At lap 21, he found himself in fifth place with a strong pace in his final race with Mercedes.
Penalties, Pit Stops, and Tension at the Front
Verstappen was given a 10-second penalty for his incident with Piastri, and other penalties fell at significant moments for other drivers in the race. Norris came out ahead of the pit stops with a sizeable lead over Sainz and drove coolly and precisely throughout the race, dealing with “dirty air” from lapped cars.
Hamilton was urged by his engineer Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington to push hard with just 20 laps remaining. Hamilton’s challenge included trying to overtake Pierre Gasly to secure a podium position.
Final Laps: Norris Maintains His Lead
Despite the chaos and relentless pressure from rivals, Lando Norris remained unflappable, crossing the line 5.832 seconds clear of Carlos Sainz and his teammate Charles Leclerc.
It was an impressive last-ditch effort for Hamilton as he chased down George Russell and took fourth position on a dramatic finale to his last race with Mercedes.
Chaotic, Dramatic Season Finale
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was one of the rollercoaster races in terms of incidents, strategic decisions, and championship drama. The race delivered a much-awaited constructors’ championship to McLaren and ended the great season with emotional performances by Lewis Hamilton in the final race.
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