Lando Norris Wins Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: McLaren Secures First Constructors’ Title In 26 Years

Lando Norris dominated the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and rounded off his 2024 Formula 1 season in style. By doing so, McLaren won the Constructors’ for the first time in 26 years. An unflawed performance that sealed his fourth win of this season also confirmed McLaren’s name in the history books once more.

A Season-Defining Win

As the sun set over the Yas Marina Circuit, Norris led from pole to checkered flag, showing the prowess that has made him one of the sport’s most exciting talents. The 25-year-old Briton controlled the race superbly to hold off a determined challenge from Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who finished second, and Charles Leclerc, who completed the podium in third place112.

But the real greatness of Norris’s win was that there was a lot at stake: McLaren went into the race with a 21-point lead over Ferrari in the Constructors’ standings and knew the result would wrap up a first title since 1998. So, the pressure was on, but Norris delivered the goods in an afternoon performance he will remember for a very long time.

McLaren’s Resurgence

The rise of McLaren to the top in Formula 1 has been nothing less than phenomenal. The team actually started its resurgence quite seriously in the 2023 season, where it laid all the foundations it needed for the triumphant 2024 season. To be precise, the introduction of the MCL38 car, in addition to several strategic upgrades introduced throughout the year, proved to be the catalyst it needed to lift the championship for the first time in 22 years.

The turning point in this respect came in the form of the Miami Grand Prix, which was when Norris claimed his first F1 victory. Not only did the win raise their level of confidence, but it also showed them that the potential for their car and philosophy in general was massive. Since then, McLaren has become a genuine contender for the titles and has been seen consistently fighting at the front with Red Bull and Ferrari every now and then.

A Team Effort

While Norris’s brilliance behind the wheel was doubtless key, McLaren’s success was very much a team effort. It was underlined by the flawless execution of Norris’s only pit stop in Abu Dhabi, which ensured he stayed ahead of Sainz, who had pitted a lap earlier in an attempt to undercut the McLaren driver.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown: “Lando drove brilliantly. Unfortunate what happened to Oscar at the start, but the team was flawless. They executed the pit stop great. He also confessed that it was “the worst two hours” of his life, which only demonstrates how much tension and emotion was surrounding the event17.

A Record-Breaking Achievement

McLaren’s triumph in Abu Dhabi means they captured their ninth Constructors’ Championship to stand joint second in the all-time list alongside Williams. The 26-year gap between titles represents the longest interval for any constructor in Formula 1 history, putting great perspective into the extent of their achievement.

This title win is more than just a statistic. It means this team, after many trials and tribulations in the last twenty years, has signaled its return to the pinnacle of the sport. The last time McLaren won a Constructors’ Championship was in 1998 when the landscape of F1 was very different. Since then, new powerhouses such as Red Bull and Mercedes have emerged, making McLaren’s resurgence all the more impressive25.

Norris: A Star on the Rise

A convincing Lando Norris drove all through the 2024 season to nail Abu Dhabi as his and kept him in solid position among Formula 1’s shiniest young stars. This young Briton, Norris, ended up second in the Drivers’ standings, behind no one else other than the dominant Dutchman Max Verstappen28.

Norris has grown into the season: steadfast under pressure, pulling off some very critical overtakes while always extracting the maximum potential of his car. With him, McLaren has truly been able to succeed. With four wins, nine pole positions, and 26 podiums to his name, Norris proved himself a genuine contender for the title.

Looking Ahead Towards 2025

But as he crossed the line in Abu Dhabi, Norris was already setting his sights on next season. “It’s been a special year. Next year is going to be my year too,” he said over the team radio. This statement of intent has now placed him in a position where challenging for the Drivers’ Championship in 2025 seems achievable.

McLaren’s 2024 season has set the stage for what promises to be an exciting title battle next year. With the team now firmly established at the front of the grid, with a car capable of winning races, expectations will be high for both Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri.

Challenges Ahead

Coming into the 2025 season, McLaren faces stiff challenges as they seek to defend their Constructors’ title and fight for the Drivers’ Championship despite their successes of 2024. There is still considerable competition within Formula 1, with many teams such as Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes likely to mount strong challenges.

McLaren’s engineering is well aware—its technical lead, Neil Houldey, knows all too well exactly what the job was. “There’s an opportunity,” he said as early as after the 2025 and 2026 championships—the team wants to do a double. Notice how this now lofty goal demonstrates the keen determination of being able to carry onwards from success the year before until sustained dominance now.

The Impact on Formula 1

McLaren’s resurgence at the top injected more thrill factors in Formula 1. Having challenged Ferrari during their title takedown and provided the interesting story throughout this season of 2024 added so much allure in fans towards this championship battle.

The team’s success has also inspired other midfield teams that would like to challenge the established front-runners. It has been proved that with talent, innovation, and persistence, even the most formidable opponents in Formula 1 can be outdone.

A New Era at McLaren

As McLaren celebrates this hard-earned Constructors’ Championship, the team finds itself at the dawn of a new era. Success in 2024 has fanned the flames of passion and belief that once made McLaren one of the most feared teams in Formula 1.

Success would be sustained well now. Zak Brown and the McLaren management, who have developed a knack lately, cannot afford to show lethargy as far as their team being in the mix for the wins is concerned. Further car development, strategic longer-term planning for incoming regulations, along with nurturing young driver talent in the ranks—all the time—are aspects that will assure there isn’t again any slipping toward the back markers.

Conclusion

Lando Norris winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and McLaren taking the Constructors’ Championship for the first time in 26 years are moments that will go down in Formula 1 history. Over many years, persistence, very clever thinking, and fortitude have been shown by the whole team at McLaren.

The champagne is flowing, and the celebrations have begun; this really is as big as it gets. The fact that McLaren has returned to the peak of Formula 1 doesn’t just rewrite the record books but also points toward what should be an exciting chapter in the history of the sport.

With Norris leading the charge and a car to match any for victory, McLaren enters the 2025 season with not only greater confidence but also ambition. The question is now not if they can fight for championships but how many for the next few seasons. And with the sun setting on the 2024 season, the future certainly is looking bright for McLaren and its legion of fans worldwide.