Lando Norris admits he was nervous about McLaren’s title hopes after Oscar Piastri was hit at the start of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, before taking the win that secured the constructors’ championship for the team.
McLaren started with both drivers on the front row and knowing a win would guarantee the title even if Ferrari finished second and third. Such a result for the Scuderia looked unlikely with Charles Leclerc starting on the back row, but Piastri was hit by Max Verstappen at Turn 1 and Leclerc had a brilliant first lap, putting the pressure on Norris to deliver.
“I’m very, very happy, just as I’m sure everyone in the team is,” Norris said. “Today was a very special day for all of us. It was ours to lose today — and I’m sure at certain moments, people thought that it was not far away from being lost. Two Ferraris up there, and Charles did a great job to get back to the podium.
“Oscar was super unlucky — he got taken out in Turn 1 — so for a minute, my heart was like, ‘Oh God, it’s not looking as likely.’ But if I just keep my head down and keep focused, I knew I could deliver and do what I’ve got to do.
“But the bigger picture of us winning a championship for the first time in 26 years — you wouldn’t have thought that when you say the name McLaren, it feels wrong to say that they’ve not won a championship in 26 years. But for me to be part of that, for Oscar to be part of it, is something we’re incredibly proud of. And delivering that for the team has put the biggest smiles possible on everyone’s face.
“This is the biggest reward you can give back to everyone who designs the car, builds the car, gets the partners; everyone has played such a big part. So, just proud. Of course, I’m happy I finished the season this way, but I’m way more happy for the team than I am for myself.”
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Norris admits he was checking the status of the race on the screens around the track and as soon as he saw Leclerc making progress, he was aware of how tense the situation was while he also struggled to shake off Carlos Sainz in the first half of the race.
“I was watching the TV screens and I saw Charles was P8 after lap 1. So I was a little bit nervous, but I knew I just had to focus on myself, put my head down and Carlos was never far away. I think the biggest the gap was 4.2 seconds in the first 10 and that’s not a very nice gap in my opinion. It’s a bit too close for my comfort.
“So it was a tricky race and I’m sure there was probably a lot more nervous people on the pit wall and in the garage knowing what was at stake. And I got the adrenaline of the car and focused on that. For them, they’re just sitting and watching the screens and they have a lot more time to think about what can go wrong and all of that.
“A shame for Oscar. We really wanted to have a 1-2 today and finish and let McLaren be on top today as a team in a race, but also for a championship. I felt quite bad for him — it wasn’t his fault, but he’s had a great year. So we’ll all celebrate together. I certainly am and I’ll have some fun.”