Lando Norris fully deserves to be crowned Formula 1 world champion – even if a small but vocal section of fans say he doesn’t.

He becomes the 35th driver to earn the honour, the 11th Brit and the first for McLaren since Sir Lewis Hamilton back in 2008.

But even with a good advantage going into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, there were plenty who doubted he would emerge victorious against Max Verstappen or Oscar Piastri.

Bernie Ecclestone suggested he was ‘cocky’, others that he wasn’t bullish enough, that he lacked the bottle. And after being overtaken by Piastri on the opening lap at Yas Marina, they may well have had a point.

But ultimately, the 26-year-old did what he needed to do. He crossed the finishing line in third-place, pipping Verstappen to the post by just two points.

The gap s

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