Lando Norris delivered a stunning performance at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, securing victory and sealing McLaren’s first Formula One constructors’ championship since 1998. The long-awaited triumph marked a turning point for the team, which had endured years of struggles, including a low point of finishing ninth in 2015 and 2017. As fireworks lit up the sky over the Yas Marina Circuit, McLaren celebrated the culmination of a remarkable season, capped by Norris’s poise and determination under immense pressure.
Starting from pole position, Norris was tasked with carrying McLaren’s hopes after teammate Oscar Piastri’s race was compromised on the first lap following a collision with Max Verstappen. Norris showcased exceptional composure, holding off a relentless challenge from Ferrari. Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc finished second and third, respectively, but their efforts weren’t enough to deny McLaren the championship.
The win was emblematic of McLaren’s resurgence, driven by significant upgrades introduced earlier in the season. These upgrades, first seen at the Miami Grand Prix, transformed the team’s performance, enabling them to overturn a massive 115-point deficit and compete at the front. The team’s staff, clad in their signature papaya colors, celebrated ecstatically in the garage, reveling in their first major title since 2008, when Lewis Hamilton secured the drivers’ championship for them.
Hamilton, meanwhile, delivered a performance that underscored his enduring talent. In what was his final race with Mercedes, the seven-time world champion executed a phenomenal comeback drive, climbing from 16th to fourth. His determination and skill were on full display as he overtook teammate George Russell on the final lap, a fitting farewell to the team he had been a part of since 2013.
The emotional weight of the occasion was palpable. After the race, Hamilton performed celebratory doughnuts on the start-finish straight before kneeling by his car, visibly moved. His heartfelt words to his long-time race engineer Peter Bonnington highlighted the depth of their partnership, built over more than a decade of shared success. “We dreamed alone, but together we believed,” Hamilton said. His gratitude extended to the entire Mercedes team, whom he credited with helping him achieve historic milestones, including six world titles with the team.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff praised Hamilton’s final performance as “the drive of a world champion” and affirmed the team’s enduring bond with the driver. Although Mercedes has faced challenges in recent seasons, Hamilton’s legacy and the team’s reputation remain untarnished.
As Hamilton prepares to join Ferrari next season, McLaren looks ahead with optimism. This championship signals the team’s return to prominence and lays the foundation for continued success. The journey to reclaim their place at the top of Formula One has been arduous, but the rewards are evident in the collective euphoria of the team and fans alike.
While Norris’s victory and McLaren’s championship stole the headlines, the race saw notable performances throughout the field. Verstappen, hampered by the first-lap incident with Piastri, finished sixth, while Piastri managed to recover to 10th. Russell claimed fifth for Mercedes, with Pierre Gasly seventh for Alpine, Nico Hülkenberg eighth for Haas, and Fernando Alonso ninth for Aston Martin.
McLaren’s triumph represents a broader shift in the competitive landscape of Formula One. After years of Red Bull and Mercedes dominance, the return of McLaren as a championship contender adds depth and unpredictability to the sport. The 2024 season showcased a grueling and thrilling battle, culminating in a moment that may well define a new era for McLaren and its drivers, Norris and Piastri, who were not even born when the team last clinched the constructors’ crown.
As the celebrations in Abu Dhabi stretched into the night, McLaren could savor the fruits of their labor and look forward to building on this success in the seasons to come.
