Norris battled nerves in Abu Dhabi GP after Leclerc opening lap
Lando Norris admitted that Charles Leclerc's stunning recovery from the back of the grid in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix rattled the McLaren team.
The Ferrari driver’s incredible charge through the field, gaining 11 places in the opening lap, inevitably added a layer of tension to McLaren's title defense.
With McLaren’s hopes of securing its first constructors' title since 1998 hanging in the balance, Norris knew that the pressure was mounting with every place Leclerc gained.
The Woking-based outfit’s worries were compounded by Oscar Piastri’s race virtually ending before it even really began, when the Aussie was spun out of second position following a first-corner clash with Max Verstappen.
Meanwhile, Leclerc, starting from the back due to a grid penalty, stunned everyone by charging through the pack. By the end of the first lap, the Monegasque driver was already up to eighth place – a remarkable feat that made Norris uneasy.
"I was watching the TV screens and I saw Charles was P8 after lap one, so I was a little bit nervous!" Norris recalled. "But I knew I just had to focus on myself, put my head down.”
Although Norris managed to build a gap to his nearest rival, Carlos Sainz, the margin remained slim.
"Carlos was never far away,” he added. “I think the biggest I got the gap to was, like, 4.2 seconds in the first stint, and that's not a very nice gap in my opinion. It's a bit too close to my comfort.
"So, it was still a tricky race, and I'm sure there was probably a lot more nervous people on the pitwall and in the garage, knowing what was at stake.
“I’ve got the adrenaline of the car and focused on that. For them, they're just sitting and watching the screens, and they have a lot more time to think about what can go wrong and all of that.
"Oscar was super unlucky, he got taken out in Turn 1. So for a minute, my heart was like, ‘oh God, it's not looking as likely’. But if I just kept my head down and kept focused, I knew I could deliver and do what I got to do."
And deliver he did. As the race unfolded, Norris held his ground, clinching the win that would not only secure his fourth victory of the season but also McLaren’s first constructors' title in 26 years.
His performance was a fitting culmination of a long journey to the top. Reflecting on the significance of the moment, Norris spoke with pride about his role in McLaren’s historic triumph.
“The bigger picture of us winning a championship for the first time in 26 years, you wouldn't have thought that when you say the name McLaren," he said.
"It feels wrong to say that they've not won a championship in 26 years. But for me to be part of that, for Oscar to be part of it, is something we're incredibly proud of.
"And delivering that for the team has put the biggest smile possible on everyone's face. This is the biggest reward you can give back to everyone who designs the car, builds the car, gets the partners. Everyone has played such a big part, so just proud.
"Of course, I'm happy I finished the season this way, but I'm way more happy for the team than I am for myself."
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