Lando Norris sets sights on Max Verstappen’s title after McLaren clinch constructors’ crown

ABU DHABI – Lando Norris is gunning to end Max Verstappen’s four-year reign as world champion next season after clinching the constructors’ championship for McLaren at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Dec 8.

The 25-year-old Briton, who said he planned to “get absolutely hammered” with team boss Zak Brown at a celebratory party, declared McLaren’s triumph, a first since 1998, was “an historic moment for the team”.

“This is an historic moment for the team. They are going to want to celebrate and I’m going to want to celebrate so it’s going to be a good night.

“It’s my goal and our goal to win a drivers’ next year, I’ve made my mistakes this year, but I’ve learned a lot and I’ve learned a lot from Max and my competitors around me so, as much as I’m happy now, I’m excited to get next year going.”

He said he was proud of the progress that McLaren had made this year to improve from challengers to champions.

“It feels incredible, not for myself, but for the whole team. They’ve done an amazing job this year to come from where we were at the beginning.

“I am so proud of everyone. It’s been a lovely journey and to end the season like this is perfect.

“Congrats and a big thank you to everyone at McLaren, everyone in papaya, everyone who has supported us this year.

“It’s been a tough one and for us to win a constructors’ after 26 years is pretty special.”

Norris coolly claimed victory in a tense season-ending race at the Yas Marina Circuit as Lewis Hamilton finished a remarkable fourth in his final race for Mercedes.

The 25-year-old Norris came home 5.832 seconds ahead of Carlos Sainz and his teammate Charles Leclerc to end Ferrari’s title challenge on a night of accidents, penalties and tantrums under the floodlights.

McLaren had not won the team title since 1998, the year before Norris was born, and started the day with a lead of 21 points and a front-row lockout, but saw Oscar Piastri sent spinning in a clash with Red Bull driver Verstappen at the first corner.

This encouraged Ferrari, with Leclerc starting 19th on the grid, and they mounted a defiant if vain bid for glory, finishing second and third ahead of Hamilton, who passed teammate George Russell on the final lap.

Hamilton will join Leclerc at Ferrari next season.

“Lewis, that was the drive of a world champion,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who could at least take some consolation in McLaren winning with the German manufacturer’s engines.

Russell came home fifth ahead of Verstappen, who was one of several drivers to be handed a 10-second penalty for his crash into Piastri, and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly with Nico Hulkenberg taking eighth for Haas.

Fernando Alonso was ninth for Aston Martin and Piastri, after a battling drive, 10th in the second McLaren.

In hot, dry and clear conditions, Norris made a clean start from his eighth pole of the year to lead into Turn 1 where Verstappen attacked Piastri on the inside and made contact with his car to send both spinning.

Piastri waited to rejoin in last spot, but Verstappen squeezed back into 11th as teammate Sergio Perez’s miserable season concluded with a spin out at Turn 6 after clashing with Valtteri Bottas’ Sauber.

Verstappen was handed the penalty for his “dive bomb” move on Piastri, who said: “Yep, move of a world champion there” on McLaren team radio.

After a brief safety-car intervention, Piastri hit the rear of Franco Colapinto’s Williams, forcing the Argentinian to pit with a puncture. Piastri was also given a 10-second penalty, as was Bottas for his part in ending Perez’s race.

Verstappen, third when he took his penalty, emerged 11th before going on to finish sixth.

“Could we ask for 20 seconds?” asked Verstappen with sarcastic venom. “Stupid idiots.”

At the front, Norris was the embodiment of cool, managing his race with detached precision as he lapped most of the field, including Piastri in the final laps, to fend off the Ferrari challenge, sparking wild scenes of delight in the McLaren garage. AFP, REUTERS