Norris answers his critics with first F1 title

ABU DHABI, Dec 7 : Mentally fragile, too cocky, a privileged Gen Z kid bankrolled by a wealthy father, rapid but lacking the killer instinct that separates champions from the rest - Lando Norris has faced plenty of criticism on his road to the top in Formula One.

He has been booed by hostile crowds in parts of the world with different favourites, replying with a smile and wave from the podium, and taken flak for mistakes including colliding with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.

The 26-year-old, who was world karting champion in 2013 and became Britain's 11th Formula One champion since the 1950s with third place in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, has repeatedly made the naysayers eat their words.

There are plenty of fired-up fans ready to defend their hero, although maybe not in Australia where questions have been asked and conspiracies raised about alleged McLaren favouritism of the Brit over local boy Piastri.

Until last year's Miami Grand Prix, social media keyboard warriors dubbed Norris 'Lando No-wins' - holder of the Formula One record for most podiums without a win (15) after finishing runner-up eight times in 110 starts.

That matter dealt with, the focus turned to the McLaren driver's inability to convert pole positions into victories - a 'fact' he buried this season by winning the Melbourne opener from the top slot.

Of his seven wins this campaign, five have come from pole position.

NATURAL SPEED AND STRONG WORK ETHIC

Norris' family background has come under scrutiny, with former karting rivals talking of how he enjoyed the best of everything.

His father Adam's fortune, from financial services, has been put at more than 200 million pounds ($264.72 million).

That is not uncommon in motorsport, where the costs of rising through the