Time to wave the chequered flag on today’s live blog, and a thrilling F1 season.I’ll leave you with Giles’ Richards race report.Thanks for joining me – see you in March for the Australian Grand Prix.Bye!And here’s Oscar Piastri, who won four of the first six races but ultimately came up short.“We gave it everything, a bit of a gamble on strategy to try and win the race and the championship.

That’s all you can ask for.It’s been a fun challenge, hasn’t felt like that at times, but a very enjoyable season for both of us.”“I’ve learned a lot from what Lando does, it’s nice to know it goes both ways.I think it’s made us both better drivers, and there’s plenty more to come.At times this year I felt unstoppable – a pretty cool feeling to have – but I’ve learned a lot of lessons in tough moments.

”Lewis Hamilton: “I’m really, really happy for Lando.Winning your first world title is truly special.The UK continues to pump out great drivers.I know how he must have felt today, it’s nerve-wracking.I told him before the weekend, what he’s been doing has worked, so don’t change anything.

I guess that’s what he did.”Mike Hawthorn, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, John Surtees, Jackie Stewart, James Hunt, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button … Lando Norris.The McLaren driver is Britain’s 11th F1 world champion, and has earned a message from PM Keir Starmer.“Congratulations @LandoNorris, Britain’s new @F1 champion! An unbelievable season and so well deserved,” Starmer wrote on X.Andrea Stella, the McLaren team principal, credits Red Bull for “raising the bar” and pushing his drivers all the way.

“There was pain and disappointment in the last few races, but I’m most proud of how we responded to the difficulties.This makes the difference, when you’re trying to beat a four-times world champion.”Norris also pays tribute to Oscar Piastri: “He’s newer to this than me but I’ve learned a lot from him.He was performing much better than me until the season break.I’ve really benefited from having him as a teammate – sadly, we’ve got plenty more seasons together!“I went away and worked on myself, the little details – and look, I won by what, two points? I want to give congrats to Oscar and to Max, for making us stress like hell.

Oscar has driven incredibly, and at some point he’s going to get the better of me.”More from Lando Norris: “It’s pretty cool.It’s pretty insane.It’s hard for me to even say it yet … maybe tomorrow morning.Has it been a perfect season? Absolutely not.

I’ve had struggles, but I’ve also had luck and fortune.I think I had the consistency over the season, I felt a lot of discomfort.“Not many things in my life have made me cry, but this is one.[On the last lap] I thought about my mum, my dad and how happy they would be.I almost had more problems trying to relax at the end, those quiet laps, you run back the journey, like in the movies.

What was he thinking about? “My first ever time in a go kart, looking like an absolute rookie,” he laughs,“I’ve been with this team for eight years, I wanted to win for McLaren, we got both titles together,They’ve given me an incredible car, but there have been struggles,”1 Lando Norris (GB) McLaren 423pts 2 Max Verstappen (Neth) Red Bull 421pts 3 Oscar Piastri (Aus) McLaren 410pts 4 George Russell (GB) Mercedes 319pts 5 Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 242pts 6 Lewis Hamilton (GB) Ferrari 156pts 7 Kimi Antonelli (It) Mercedes 150pts8 Alexander Albon (Thai) Williams 73pts 9 Carlos Sainz (Sp) Williams 64pts 10 Fernando Alonso (Sp) Aston Martin 56ptsFrom the despair of Zandvoort to glory in Abu Dhabi, here’s Giles Richards on how Lando Norris became world champion,Here are the thoughts of Lando Norris’ mum, Cisca Wauman.

“I’m emotionally drained – so happy for McLaren and all the fans,A lot of sacrifices – by the time he was eight, Lando and his brother Ollie were competing [in karting],I feel like he missed a lot of childhood,”On today’s race, she adds: “The last few laps took ages! They were calling us down with 10 laps to go … the race is not over,Anything could still happen! But we did it.

”Carlos Sainz gives his reaction: “Lando has always been an extremely quick, talented driver, more than people give him credit for,” he says of his former McLaren teammate,“More than anything, happy for him as a person, he doesn’t fit the [F1] stereotype,He’s shown you can be a world champion and show that human side, you can be yourself – you can’t have to be a ‘badass’,He must have suffered this year with all the pressure, Max breathing down his neck, but he’s kept control and he’s won it,”“It feels like a championship born of opportunism rather than dominance,” says Matthew Carpenter-Arevalo.

“Lando did just enough, but also felt wobbly in the buildup.Part of what’s great about Lando is how transparent he is about his own confidence issues.It’s great to see him leap over the bar and likely come back stronger for the seasons to come.”1 Max Verstappen (Neth) Red Bull 1:26:07.469 2 Oscar Piastri (Aus) McLaren +12.

59sec3 Lando Norris (GB) McLaren +16.57s 4 Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari +48.56s 5 George Russell (GB) Mercedes +23.28s 6 Fernando Alonso (Sp) Aston Martin +1:07.56 7 Esteban Ocon (Fr) Haas +1:09.

88 8 Lewis Hamilton (GB) Ferrari +1:12.67 9 Nico Hülkenberg (Ger) Sauber +1:19.01 10 Lance Stroll (Can) Aston Martin +1:19.5211 Gabriel Bortoleto (Bra) Kick Sauber +1:21.04 12 Oliver Bearman (GB) Haas +1:21.

17 13 Carlos Sainz (Sp) Williams +1:22.158 14 Yuki Tsunoda (Jpn) Red Bull +1:23.79 15 Kimi Antonelli (It) Mercedes +1:24.40 16 Alexander Albon (Thai) Williams +1:30.33 17 Isack Hadjar (Fr) RacingBulls + 1 lap 18 Liam Lawson (NZ) RacingBulls + 1 lap 19 Pierre Gasly (Fr) Alpine + 1 lap 20 Franco Colapinto (Arg) Alpine + 1 lapOn Oscar Piastri, Brown says: “He’s a future world champion – both guys won seven races this year.

It can be a cruel sport, but we can’t wait to go racing again next season.”Zak Brown, McLaren CEO: “We let our two drivers race to the end, a lot of people said that was impossible to pull off.This Max guy is a great champion, he’s pretty hard to beat.”“As many highs as we’ve had this season, we’ve had some lows, some terrifying moments towards the end of the year.Everyone has done an awesome job.

That was not an easy race – great pit stops, good strategy, keeping Charles [Leclerc] at bay.”“My best performances came when I needed them the most,” Norris adds.“I managed to get the gap I needed, to do what I needed to do today.I’ve got my family, my girlfriend here.I managed to do them proud, put some smiles on their faces.

My mum and dad helped me chase this dream – I love all you guys.”Lando Norris talks to Sky: “It’s incredible, surreal … I dreamed of this for a long time, everybody does.A lot of ups, a lot of downs [this season] but I managed to get the job done, with an incredible team.The last 16, 17 years of my life trying to chase this dream … so I’m pretty happy.”“Congratulations for Lando from Switzerland, he really deserves the F1 title and I hope he will win many more,” writes Peter M.

Between Piastri’s flying start and Verstappen’s late fightback, Norris has come in for plenty of flak this season – but he deserves huge credit for winning this title under such extreme pressure.It had to be these three drivers on the final podium of the year, although we now have the slightly strange sight of Norris, the world champion, on the third step with Verstappen in the middle as race winner.This was his eighth grand prix win of the season, edging out Norris and Piastri, who both picked up seven.George Russell of Mercedes was the only other driver to win a race – in fact, he won two.After all of the drama, hype and hoopla, suddenly it’s just the three drivers together on a massive sofa – one a world champion, the other two the embodiment of crestfallen.

“You didn’t think about backing up?” Piastri asks Verstappen with a smile,“Congratulations” is Verstappen’s one-word greeting to his successor as world champion,Here’s our race report:Coulthard asks Norris if it’s sunk in yet that he’s a world champion, setting the poor bloke off again,Another big roar from the crowd,“I’ve been at McLaren for nine years – plenty of crazy, difficult times, plenty of good times.

I’m proud to bring them a world title, proud of everyone I hopefully made cry,”“I didn’t think I’d cry, but I did,” Norris says,“It’s been a long journey,I’d like to thank my guys, my team, my parents,” he adds, choking up again,“No, I look like a loser!” He looks like a winner, says Coulthard.

“We did it, I’m so proud of everyone,” he adds with a clench of his fist,“[Oscar and Max] didn’t make my life easy this year … it’s been a long season,” On being investigated for the Tsunoda overtake, he says: “I had no idea! I was just trying to enjoy the moment,”Carlos Sainz is also eager to embrace his former McLaren teammate, who is now talking to Sky’s David Coulthard …Lando Norris is out of his car, and gets congratulatory hugs from Verstappen and Piastri,Then an emotional moment with his mum and dad, and finally some raucous celebrations with the McLaren pit crew.

Chants of “Lando” echo around the stands, and Piastri comes back over to hug Norris’s family and friends.F1 can feel cold and clinical sometimes, but this is undeniably heartwarming to watch.The kid who used to make Fernando Alonso’s tea is world champion!“We can be really proud of our fightback,” says Verstappen.“I know you’re disappointed, but I’m not disappointed.We gave everything, I’m proud of everything we did.

”“Lando, is this the world champion hotline?” Zak Brown hollers over the McLaren team radio.Norris is in tears, thanking his team and his family.“Oh my god, we made history.I love you guys.You deserve it.

I’m not crying.” He is.Verstappen crosses the line first to win the race, but his brilliant comeback has fallen just short as Norris secures third place, and the points needed to claim his first world title.Oscar Piastri is second on the night, but third overall.What a season, and what a moment for Lando Norris after a season full of twists, turns, pain and drama