Max Verstappen and Lando Norris will both enter the winter break with silverware to celebrate.
McLaren secured the Constructors’ Championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and have Lando Norris to thank.
Norris led from start to finish after taking pole position on Saturday.
He was hoping to have teammate Oscar Piastri act as his rear gunner after he qualified on the front row alongside him.
This season’s world champion Max Verstappen had something to say about that and after diving down the inside of Piastri at the first corner, he sent the Australian spinning.
Verstappen was unhappy with the penalty he received, and only ended up finishing sixth, although it was a better result than Piastri who only just snuck into the points after being penalised himself for hitting Franco Colapinto.
It meant all the pressure was on Norris with Carlos Sainz sitting right behind him and Charles Leclerc forcing his way through the field to join his Ferrari teammate on the podium.
McLaren did enough through Norris to win the championship for the first time since 1998 and Verstappen took to social media to congratulate his rival.
Max Verstappen and Lando Norris send messages after McLaren win the Constructors’ Championship
Going into the final race of the year, McLaren had a 21-point advantage over Ferrari, with Red Bull no longer mathematically able to catch the papaya-coloured team.
Ferrari did all they could despite Leclerc’s 10-place grid penalty to secure two podiums, but the maths always meant that if one of McLaren’s drivers took victory, they would be champions.
After the race, Verstappen apologised to Piastri for causing their collision and then said on Instagram: “Congratulations to @mclaren for winning the Constructors’ Championship.
“2024 [tick emoji] Thank you so much for the hard work this year @redbullracing. Now ready for some time off!”
READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
Verstappen has plenty of rivals already looking forward to 2025 with Red Bull looking more and more vulnerable and Norris may be at the front of that list.
Nico Rosberg makes Norris the favourite for 2025, and after seeing Verstappen’s message, he replied: “Cheers mate, see you next year for more.”
Lando Norris proved at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix he could emulate Max Verstappen
Norris entered the 2024 F1 season without having won a Grand Prix during his career.
He picked up the nickname ‘Lando No Wins’ but that was finally dismissed after he stood on the top step of the podium for the first time in Miami.
His win in Abu Dhabi was his fourth this year, and while that’s not close to Verstappen’s tally of nine for the season, it highlights a step in the right direction for the 25-year-old.
READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration
Not only that, but the manner of Sunday’s victory was reminiscent of Verstappen or even Lewis Hamilton during their dominant eras.
He led from the first corner and even though all the pressure was on him to deliver and not make a mistake, he was faultless.
Norris and Verstappen’s relationship has been under the microscope this season, and the Dutchman’s latest feud with George Russell only highlights how much of a target the 27-year-old has on his back.
There’s a good chance that their rivalry will be reinvigorated again next year.
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