I didn’t think I would cry but I did – emotional Lando Norris clinches F1 title

Lando Norris broke down in tears after he completed his life’s dream by winning the Formula One world championship.

The 26-year-old drove into the history books by finishing third at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and beating Max Verstappen, who won the season-finale from pole position at the Yas Marina Circuit, to take the title by just two points.

Norris’ McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri finished runner-up and had to settle for third in the title race.

The British driver was in tears on his in-lap, his voice cackling over the radio, before he left the McLaren which carried him to glory and shook hands with Verstappen and Piastri before hugging his mother, Cisca, and father, Adam, with his fluorescent crash helmet still on.

“Oh, God, I have not cried in a while,” Norris said as he was interviewed on the pit-straight with fireworks lighting up the sky. “I didn’t think I would cry but I did.

“It has been a long journey. I want to thank my guys, everyone at McLaren, my parents, my mum, my dad, they are the ones who have supported me since the beginning.

“I look like a loser!”

David Coulthard, a 13-time winner who was conducting the post-race interview, replied: “You look like a winner to me!”

Norris continued: “It feels amazing. I now know what Max feels like a little bit, and I want to congratulate Max and Oscar. It has been a pleasure and an honour to race against them this season.

“It has been a long year but we did it and I am so proud of everyone.

“It was a long race until the end and we have seen anything can happen in Formula One so I kept pushing until the last two laps.

“I wanted to fight to the end and that is what we have had to do this season. Max and Oscar did not make my life easy this year but I am