As an emotional Lando Norris celebrated his maiden Formula One championship title on Sunday at Yas Marina Circuit, many around the paddock sang his praises, noting his character and personal development, alongside his incredible driving, as factors contributing to his achievement.
Norris edged out his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to secure the championship crown by finishing third at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella described a “holistic approach” taken by Norris to overcome difficult parts of the season and put himself in top contention for the title.
“This season there was an important turning point in my view, which is the way Lando responded to the difficulties that we had at the start of the season,” Stella told reporters after the race.
“There was a start of a process that was structured, that was holistic, it was involving the personal development, professional, driving, race craft, and it makes me particularly glad that Lando could capitalise on this.
“Because this has been something that not necessarily I’ve seen many times before. In terms of the amount of work, the people involved, and the rate of development. So this has made Lando even capable, and this is valid for both of our drivers, of absorbing a couple of tough moments.”
Carlos Sainz, who was Norris’ teammate for two seasons at McLaren in 2019 and 2020 and is a good friend of the Briton, shared a warm embrace with the world champion on the track and reserved some kind words for him later while talking to the press.
“I’m honestly very happy for him,” said Sainz. “He’s a great F1 driver, unbelievably fast. But with his particular way of going about life and things, as much as he's got criticised a lot during the last few years for being how he is.
“He's world champion and everyone can keep dreaming about being F1 world champion while he goes about his own way and do
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