Lando Norris world champion will be the slogan reverberating throughout Formula 1 over time, and the scenes at Yas Marina made it perfectly clear why this moment was so monumental. Even without turbulence on the race track, the end result provided tension, intrigue in strategies and a close intensity of psychological combat to give the McLaren driver his maiden world title. When the chequered flag dropped, the emotion that Norris had was so great he could not control it in the team radio with a more raw message that he loved them all, and they deserved it. A few minutes later, his mother was filmed crying in the McLaren garage and the cameras got to see the human elements of a season that required strength and calculates in a close relationship.
The race started very politely until the high drama came, then the high drama was evident at first. Having lined up with Oscar Piastri and behind Max Verstappen, Norris had to only find a place that would leave him ahead of the Ferrari and Mercedes cars of Charles Leclerc and George Russell respectively. Verstappen on the other hand entered with the slightest hope of rewriting the history of a 12 point disadvantage but even as he took the victory, the larger history was making itself felt immediately at the back of him. Piastri also startled both Norris and Verstappen by passing them early on as they pushed and overtook them in second place, which initially narrowed the title equation. Verstappen would later require Leclerc to overtake Norris in that point but the McLaren driver was in control of the early threat and was able to settle in his race.
It was soon showing signs that this was to be a midfield traffic race, tyre saving and timed pits instead of racing. Then there was the Norris message of graining and it caused a concern on the McLaren wall. Nevertheless, the tactic of the team was perfect during the day. Decent halts, dead-even direction and accurate messaging ensured that Norris did not go out of the decisive championship spot. Requesting his engineer whether Leclerc was gaining ground; his answer was, fairly even pace, which told his hopes of the fifth world title were fading.
Midway the priority was given to Yuki Tsunoda, on an offset track and apparently determined to interfere with the rhythm of Norris. The Japanese motorist had already sent word over the radio in some rather coded signals that he was aware what to do and whether Red Bull was going to send him out on the road as a counter-measure. Norris however, took his time and sent Tsunoda away and proceeded with his cuts on the DRS train, handing overtakes with the calmness of someone doing the work of a doctor instead of a) the finale of such an epic. The five seconds fine in case of continuous defensive attempts of Tsunoda only heightened the impression that Norris was in control of the race both in his mind and in engine action.
The title story had been largely determined by lap 38. Norris was behind Verstappen but what was more important is that he was pretty far away behind Leclerc. There was no doubt that the United Kingdom could have had the 11 th world champion without any intervention of a safety car or a late strategic twist. Ferrari tried to instigate such a situation by sending Leclerc to the second stop, but his calm reaction in McLaren dampened the menace. The ensuing stop of Norris was perfect and he was back safe in the lead of the race with space to spare as Verstappen passed Piastri to the lead.
The final lap became heavy-hearted and let the race pass in procession, with 10 laps to go. Verstappen dictated the race, Piastri was second and Norris followed them so closely to verify the championship. The pace difference between Leclerc and Russell was not as significant as to launch any serious attack, and Russell, despite all his initial potential, never proved to be the wildcard Verstappen required. The stress which had characterized the McLaren season, strategic mistakes and operational mistakes and wrong judgement of time, were simply blown away on the one day that perfection was wanted. They delivered it.
Then, when Verstappen finally crossed the line to take the race, the importance of the situation was all on Norris. It did not matter who won but the championship. The garages at McLaren exploded, friends gave each other hugs and Norris had made his mark in history. The loss of 34 points following Zandvoort had converted to the greatest victory of his career. What came next was easy, relief, joy and the new world champion was born.
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