At the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lando Norris delivered a heartfelt and tearful interview following his remarkable victory in the Formula 1 World Championship. The 26-year-old crossed the finish line in third place at the Yas Marina Circuit, but it was enough to secure the overall title, edging out fierce rivals Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri.
Born in Bristol and raised in Glastonbury, Norris etched his name as Britain’s 11th F1 world champion. As he stepped out of his car, emotions overwhelmed him. “I haven’t cried in a while! I didn’t think I would cry today, but I did,” Norris told David Coulthard during the post-race interview, according to reports from the Express.
Reflecting on his achievement, he expressed heartfelt gratitude: “This has been a long journey. First, I want to thank my team, everyone at McLaren, and my parents – my mum and dad who have supported me from the very beginning.”
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He continued, “It feels incredible. Now I understand a little bit of what Max feels like! I want to congratulate Max and Oscar – my biggest competitors this season. Racing against them has been an honor, and I’ve learned a great deal from both throughout the year.”
Norris highlighted the significance of the moment: “This isn’t just about this year or the last seven or eight years with McLaren, but the past 16 or 17 years of chasing this dream. Today, we all did it, and I couldn’t be happier.”
He reflected on his performance under pressure: “My best races this year came when I needed them most. Even when I was on the back foot, that’s when I showed the most of myself. Today, I managed the gap perfectly and did what was necessary to clinch the title. I’m proud. Having my family and girlfriend here means everything – I’d never want to embarrass them on a day like this, and sharing this moment with them is a dream come true.”
Norris’s path to victory in Abu Dhabi was far from easy. He slipped from second to third on the opening lap, losing a position to Piastri. He then battled pressure from Charles Leclerc, who recovered strongly following a tough qualifying session for Ferrari.
After the first pit stops, Norris found himself behind Yuki Tsunoda, who was instructed by the Red Bull team to defend aggressively. Tsunoda pushed Norris off track at Turn Six’s inside line, leading to a penalty for the Japanese driver. Despite this, Norris held his nerve, prevailed in the battle, and was finally free to cement his place as the new F1 champion.