So Lando Norris finishes the year as a world champion. Joy and rapture. Tears in his eyes.
He was not entirely recrimination-free, however, talking of how hard it was going up against Max Verstappen, of how he had learned from the bitter experience of the drivers’ fight.
But forget that for now: here he was a champion as the fireworks lit up the Abu Dhabi sky.
Norris was the one who made it happen, too. He drove impeccably from the front, a picture of calm in a sea of jeopardy, to lead McLaren to the constructors’ title for the first time this century.
Zak Brown, the team’s American chief executive, admitted to nerves beforehand. He has been a bag of them for months now. He said a while ago that if anyone told him the contest was already wrapped up, he would punch them on the nose. That was months back.
And that’s why relief tumbled out on the pit wall when Norris came home first, which he had to do because his team-mate Oscar Piastri was unexpectedly erratic.
Lando Norris celebrates after winning the Abu Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit
McLaren’s Norris cruised to victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon
Norris never looked in danger after starting on pole and sealed the Constructors’ Championship
McLaren chief Zak Brown (left) expressed his relief after ‘the worst two hours of his life’
‘Next year is going to be my year, too,’ promised Norris.
For now, though, it’s the first time since 1998 that the silver trophy is heading to Surrey. This is McLaren’s ninth constructors’ title, putting them level with Williams and behind only Ferrari, on 16.
The legend who took his leave of Mercedes, a certain Lewis Hamilton, won a drivers’ title at McLaren but not the team prize.
It was not straightforward, though, thanks to a chaotic start. You’d have thought both McLarens — Norris starting on pole and Piastri second — would have played it safe, given they brought a 21-point lead into this decider. No entanglements, no wheel-to-wheel heroics, thanks.
That is what Max Verstappen thought, too. So, the Dutchman tore down the inside of the first corner expecting Piastri to yield. Heavens, he didn’t yield, the stubborn Aussie!
They both spun off track, losing ground. Verstappen fell back to 11th; Piastri to the back. Verstappen was rash, yes, without doubt. But why not let him through and save everyone in your team palpitations?
Norris was up front and strong but if anything should go wrong with him would Ferrari’s pair of Carlos Sainz, running second, and Charles Leclerc, making good progress after starting 19th, be able to close their deficit?
‘Yep, the move of a world champion,’ said Piastri sarcastically of Verstappen’s bullish attempt.
Oscar Piastri (left) and Max Verstappen (right) span off after colliding on the first lap of the race
Verstappen was able to recover quickly while Piastri was left at the back of the field
McLaren beat Ferrari to the Constructors’ Championship after it went down the the final race
Verstappen disagreed, claiming with a little bias: ‘Unlucky — I was all the way up the inside before the crash.’
The stewards disagreed and handed the world champion a 10-second penalty. ‘Could we ask for 20sec? Stupid idiots,’ rejoined Verstappen, a reference to his draconian punishment in Mexico in October.
Post-race, after finishing sixth, Verstappen was still disgruntled. Two penalty points on his licence rubbed it in. He joked he would gun for more so he could take ‘paternity leave’ when his first child with girlfriend Kelly Piquet arrives.
Anyway, Piastri seemed a little discombobulated by the smash and drove into the back of Franco Colapinto’s Williams, causing the Argentine a puncture. This error earned Piastri a 10-second penalty of his own.
McLaren folk were all counting on Norris getting the job done and winning his fourth race of the year. The Bahraini royal family, who own the British-registered team, were here in profusion, headed by the Crown Prince.
They were involved when Hamilton won the drivers’ title in 2008 and had waited a long time, and spent a lot of cash, to witness a return to the top plinth.
When it was over, the Crown Prince flew the team over to Bahrain — a 1hr 15min hop — for the party.
‘I felt sick,’ he told Mail Sport of his emotions as the race played out.
Lewis Hamilton produced a brilliant drive to finish fourth after starting back in 16th
Norris looked strong. Sainz kept him honest, though. Leclerc kept moving through, his car fast, his driving impressive. The Monegasque only started so far back because he exceeded track limits in qualifying (oh dear) and took a penalty-incurring new battery.
Piastri went in for his stop in ninth place, served his punishment, and re-emerged 15th, but well in the hunt for a handful of points.
Leclerc was up to third when he asked: ‘If it’s like this we lose the constructors?’
He was told: ‘Yes, but it’s not over yet. Keep pushing.’
It was not to be for them.
Second and third was where they finished. The £150million bounty goes to McLaren, who were on the brink of insolvency in 2020, the year Covid bit deepest. Credit to Brown and his fabulous team principal, Andrea Stella, whose clear thinking is evident every time he speaks.
As for Hamilton’s goodbye from Mercedes, it was a day of partial success and no dishonour — and a final flourish. He started 16th after a bollard got caught under his car in qualifying. Uniquely starting on hard tyres, he hung on in there after a decent start.
With 15 laps remaining he was 14 seconds behind team-mate George Russell, a place ahead of him in fourth. ‘Fourteen seconds!’ Hamilton exclaimed.
Lewis Hamilton signed off from Mercedes in style with a fine drive ahead of his move to Ferrari
‘You can do it,’ exhorted Toto Wolff from the garage.
Hamilton made rapid progress to get within 1.5sec of Russell with three laps left. ‘Stating the obvious, but keep it super clean with Lewis,’ instructed Wolff, not wishing a disastrous end for their greatest champion on his way out to Ferrari.
On the last lap, Hamilton passed Russell, who may not have put up the strongest defence of his career. Russell clapped the old boy after they crossed the line. Fourth place and out for Hamilton after 12 mostly golden seasons in silver.
‘Lewis, that was the drive of a world champion,’ intoned Wolff.
Hamilton, in full Neil Armstrong mode, responded: ‘We dreamed a lot but together we believed. What started out as a leap of faith turned into a journey into the history books.’
Hamilton did some doughnuts, parked up, bent down and kissed his often-irksome car. And now the future’s red.