Race Notes - Norris wins title by two points

By Mark Karp

Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in his Red Bull-Honda winning over Oscar Piastri in the McLaren-Mercedes by 12.594 seconds in second.

Lando Norris (16.572s) in the second McLaren by holding third place clinched the Drivers’ World Championship.

Norris becomes the 35th Drivers World Champion, and 11th British World Championship.

It is McLaren’s first Drivers Title since Lewis Hamilton in 2008.

Charles Leclerc (23.279s) in the Ferrari was fourth, followed by George Russell (48.563s) in the Mercedes GP was fifth, Fernando Alonso (1m07.562s) in the Aston Martin-Mercedes was sixth, Esteban Ocon (1m09.876s) in the Haas-Ferrari was seventh, Lewis Hamilton (1m12.670s) in his Ferrari was eighth, Nico Hulkenberg (1m19.014s) in the Sauber-Ferrari was ninth, and Lance Stroll (1m19.5223s) in the Aston Martin-Mercedes took the final point in tenth place.

As the sun went down before the start of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Verstappen is on pole with Norris alongside on row 1, Piastri and Russell on row 2, Leclerc and Alonso on row 3, Borloleto and Ocon on row 4, and Hadjar and Tsunoda rounding out the top ten.

Verstappen and Norris on medium tyres, Piastri on hard tyres.

At the appointed time the field came around and lined up on the grid. The lights went out and the race began with Verstappen goes in front with Norris and Piastri followed. On the first lap Piastri passes Norris on the outside.

On the first lap Verstappen leads, followed by Piastri, Norris, Leclerc, Alonso, Russell, Bortoleto, Hadjar, Ocon and Tsunoda in tenth, Hamilton up to 13th.

On lap 4 Verstappen leads Piastri by 2.0 seconds.

Russell passes Alonso for fifth place.

On lap 9 Hamilton pits for hard tyres and rejoins 18th.

Piastri reports that Verstappen’s tyres are graining.

At lap 15 Verstappen leads Piastri by 1.7 seconds, followed by Norris (4.7s). Leclerc (6.4s), Russell (9.7s), Alonso (11.6s) sixth.

Lawson is handed 5-sec for driving erratically.

Russell pits for hard tyres and rejoins 14th.

Om lap 16 Bortoleto pits for hard tyres and rejoins 15th.

On lap 17 Norris pits for hard tyres and rejoins ninth.

Leclerc on hard in tenth.

Norris behind a line of cars yet to pit, passes Sainz and Antonelli. Sainz pits.

On lap 19 Norris passes passes Stroll and Lawson and is up to fourth place.

On lap 20 Leclerc passes Stroll and Lawson for fifth place.

On lap 21 Verstappen leads Piastri, Tsunoda, Norris, Leclerc, Stroll, Russell, Antonelli and Hamilton in tenth.

On lap 22 Russell passes Stroll for sixth.

On lap 24 Verstappen pirs for hard tyres and rejoins in second behind Piastri. Norris passes Leclerc for third.

Leclerc passes Tsunoda for fourth.

At lap 30 Piastri leads Verstappen by 16.5s followed by Norris (20.9s), Leclerc (22.7s), Tsunoda (30.8s), Russell. (31.7s), Stroll (36.4s), Hamilton (37.9s), Alonso (40.6s) and Antonelli (41.6s) in tenth place.

Tsunoda is handed a 5-second penalty for driving erratically.

On lap 32 Verstappen set fast lap at 1m27.844s.

Hamilton pits changes from hard to medium tyres and he rejoins 19th.

On lap 33 Tsunoda pits and serves his time penalty and rejoins 18th.

Ocon passes Bearman for ninth.

On lap 35 Piastri leads Verstappen by 7.4 seconds, followed by Norris 13.3 seconds behind the leader.

On lap 39 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m27.735s.

Ocon and Bortoleto battle for eighth place.

On lat 40 Leclerc pits from fourth and rejoins fifth behind Russell.

On lap 41 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m27.625s.

Norris pits from third for hard tyres

Verstappen passes Piastri, on older tyres, for the lead.

Piastri pits from second place for medium tyres and rejoins second.

On lap 42 Leclerc pits for medium tyres and rejoins still fourth, then sets fast lap at 1m27.269s. and again the next lap at 1m26.919s.

Stroll pits.

Red Bull only strategy left is to stay ahead of Piastri, and see if something happens to Norris before the finish.

Piastri sets fast lap at 1m26.765s.

On lap 46 Leclerc sets fast lap at 1m26.725s.

At lap 46 Verstappen leads Piastri by 21.4s, followed by Norris (25.9s), Leclerc. (29.8s), Russell (41.7s), Alonso (1m00.0s), Ocon (1m00.9s), Hamilton (1m03.0s), Bearman (1m04.5s) and Bortoleto (1m06.9s) in tenth place.

On lap 49 Antonelli passes Hadjar for 13th.

At lap 53, with 5 laps remaining, Verstappen leads Piastri by 17.1 seconds, followed by Norris (21.0s), Leclerc (25.9s), Russell (46.6s), Alonso (1m06.2s), Ocon (1m07.8s), Hamilton (1m08.5s), Bearman (1m10.5s), and Bortoleto (1m13.4s) in tenth.

Ocon and Hamilton battling for seventh place.

On lap 55 Albon passes Hadjar for 16th place.

Stroll passes Sainz for 11th.

Piastri complains of graining tyres.

Stroll passes Bortoleto for tenth.

At the checked flag Verstappen wins over Piastri and Norris. Norris wins the Drivers Championship by two points over Verstappen.