Lando Norris admitted to a moment of unease during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when he saw his teammate Oscar Piastri spun around by Max Verstappen in a high-stakes battle that could have derailed McLaren’s shot at its first Constructors’ Championship since 1998.
Piastri’s Spin Sparks Early Drama
Starting from a dream one-two grid position for McLaren, Norris led the charge while Piastri sat comfortably in second. But the Australian’s race was upended at the very first corner when Verstappen clipped him in an overtake attempt, sending Piastri spinning to the back of the field.
The sight of his teammate in trouble briefly rattled Norris, who was laser-focused on securing the points McLaren needed to edge Ferrari in the constructors’ standings. “I was watching the TV screens, and I saw the incident,” Norris revealed after the race. “Seeing Charles [Leclerc] already in P8 on lap one, I was definitely nervous. I knew I just had to focus and put my head down, but it wasn’t a very nice feeling.”
Pressure at the Front
Despite the chaos unfolding behind him, Norris held firm, knowing the championship rested on his performance. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz stayed within striking distance, keeping the gap uncomfortably close throughout the race. “The biggest gap I had was around 4.2 seconds,” Norris said. “That’s not a comfortable margin. It was closer than I wanted it to be.”
With so much on the line, Norris admitted the pressure was immense but credited his adrenaline and focus for keeping him composed. “For me, being in the car, I’m focused on what I’m doing. But for the team on the pit wall, they’re just watching it all play out and probably thinking of everything that could go wrong.”
Piastri’s Determined Recovery
Despite his early setback and an additional 10-second time penalty for colliding with Williams driver Franco Colapinto, Piastri clawed his way back to finish 10th. While it wasn’t the one-two finish McLaren had hoped for, Norris praised his teammate’s resilience. “It’s a shame for Oscar. He’s had a great year, and we really wanted to finish this season with both of us on the podium. But we’ll celebrate together. He’s been an integral part of this team’s success.”
McLaren’s Moment of Glory
Norris crossed the finish line victorious, delivering McLaren the 14-point edge it needed to clinch the championship. After years of rebuilding, the result marked a watershed moment for the Woking-based team.
“It’s been a special year,” Norris said, grinning. “We’ve come so far as a team, and to cap it off with the Constructors’ Championship is an incredible feeling. Tonight, we’ll celebrate like we mean it.”
A Nervous Win Ends in Triumph
While Norris’ flawless drive sealed McLaren’s historic title, the drama of Piastri’s early incident reminded everyone how fine the margins can be in Formula 1. The team now turns its attention to defending its title in 2025, but for now, the celebrations in Woking—and the sport’s paddock—belong to McLaren.
