LANDO NORRIS IS WORLD CHAMPION WITH A PODIUM FINISH IN ABU DHABI

Formula One came to Abu Dhabi with three drivers still in contention to win the World Championship. The weekend started with the possibility of Lando Norris, Max Verstappen or Oscar Piastri leaving Abu Dhabi as World Champion. After fifty eight laps around the Yas Marina Circuit and a third place finish Lando Norris becomes just the 35th World Champion as he writes his name in motorsport history.

It wasn't the best start off the line for Max Verstappen as he is forced to cover off Lando Norris into turn one, Oscar Piastri is in third. But that all was switched around when Piastri passed Norris round the outside of turn nine for second place.

For a few laps the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc looked as though he had the pace to ruin Lando's evening but the overall pace of the McLaren come the end of the race was too much for the Ferrari.

On lap seventeen Norris became the first of the top three to stop, he rejoins in ninth but those ahead of him are yet to pit. Norris put on the hard tyres to do the one stop strategy.

And by lap twenty three Norris was back into third, as he passed the Red Bull of Yuki Tsunoda the departing Japanese driver didn’t make it easy for him, as its decided that Yuki weaved under braking forcing Norris to overtake very close to the limit of the track.

Tsunoda was eventually given a five second penalty for his actions.

Lap twenty four saw Verstappen pit from the lead as he rejoins second. Piastri now leads the race.

Then on lap forty two Oscar Piastri pits from the lead and rejoins in second ahead of Norris in third.

It wasn't a race full of drama but the three in contention drove like they had all year and out classed the rest of the grid as they pulled away in the top three positions. But ultimately is was Lando Norris who took third place which was enough to see him cross the line to claim his maiden World Championship by just two points to Max Verstappen.

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