McLaren’s Lando Norris won the Abu Dhabi Fantastic Prix on Sunday to seal the team’s to begin with constructors title since 1998.
The pole-sitter claimed the group crown for the British marque after holding off the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc within the season-closing race beneath floodlights at the Yas Marina circuit.
Lewis Hamilton, who won McLaren’s final driver’s title in 2008, overwhelmed his teammate George Russell on the ultimate lap to require fourth in his final race for Mercedes some time recently his high-profile move to Ferrari following year.
Norris, who was not indeed born the final time McLaren won the constructors title, said over the group radio: Congrats to everybody. Unimaginable, so pleased of you all you all deserve this. Thank you, it’s been a extraordinary one. Another year is attending to be my year too.
With Max Verstappen wrapping up his fourth straight driver’s crown in Las Vegas final month, the ultimate race centered on the result of the group title.
McLaren went into the record 24th fantastic prix of the season 21 focuses clear of Ferrari.
They endured an early blow when Ruddy Bull’s Verstappen collided with Oscar Piastri who had begun on the front push alongside Norris in a McLaren lockout.
However, Norris drove a measured race from the front to fight off the Ferrari challenge, starting wild scenes of enchant within the McLaren garage.
Sitting in third behind Norris and Sainz within the last 15 laps, Leclerc inquired on the off chance that “like this we lose the constructors'” and was told, yes, but the race was not over.
But Norris and McLaren had everything beneath control and he crossed the line six seconds ahead of Sainz to conclusion a long and difficult period without a title.
The win too guaranteed that Norris wrapped up moment within the drivers’ championship, 18 focuses ahead of Leclerc and 63 behind Verstappen.
