Even after the final race of the year, the international media was abuzz with Formula 1 news. McLaren clinched the championship at the last moment, thanks in part to Lando Norris, who had to concede superiority to Max Verstappen in 2024. After an extraordinarily long season, the season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit also ended in a ‘crash fest’.
We start with Sky Sports, which saw British McLaren become Formula 1 champions for the first time since 1998. Ferrari had to make up 21 points in Abu Dhabi to deny the papayas the title. An early spin from Oscar Piastri made this seem like a real possibility in the opening stages of the race. “After McLaren seemed to have the title fight completely under control by occupying the first starting row, the team ultimately had a more exciting race than expected,” according to the Sky report. “Piastri was spun around in the first corner by Max Verstappen.”
Thanks to a ‘flawless’ Lando Norris, McLaren was ultimately able to accept the constructors’ title. “Just seven years after McLaren, one of the oldest and most legendary teams in Formula 1, was at their lowest point, this result confirms their return to the top of the sport,” concluded the British medium. Seven years ago, the Woking-based team finished second to last in the championship.
‘Norris still subordinate to Verstappen’
The Italian Corriere della Sera took the opportunity to look back on Max Verstappen’s impressive season. “His strength was particularly evident in chaotic situations at Red Bull, a team accustomed to winning with ease,” writes the newspaper. “Verstappen proved that a true champion can triumph even with an imperfect car. Lando Norris had the right weapon – the MCL38 – to challenge Verstappen for the crown, but he couldn’t always handle it. He remains the king of missed opportunities and the viceroy to Verstappen.
The colleagues at La Gazzetta dello Sport lamented Ferrari’s missed opportunity to once again be crowned champions. “Thanks to McLaren, Ferrari must postpone the celebration of the world championship,” they wrote optimistically. The outlet also praised the ‘courageous comeback’ of Charles Leclerc, who kept Ferrari’s title chances alive until the last moment. “With a spirited drive, he claimed the podium, something that seemed unthinkable on the eve of the race.”
‘Crash Festival in Abu Dhabi’
The German BILD focused mainly on Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton’s final race for the Silberpfeile. At the same time, the Germans enjoyed the ‘crash festival’ at the Yas Marina Circuit. “The spectacle began at the start,” the report read. “Max Verstappen rammed Oscar Piastri in the first corner, causing both drivers to spin. ‘A championship-worthy manoeuvre,’ the Australian sarcastically exclaimed over the radio. Ouch!”
While Norris achieved an ‘uncontested victory’, the Germans’ attention was primarily on the duel between Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. “Two laps from the end, the tension rose,” the outlet wrote. “Hamilton found himself behind teammate Russell, while Toto Wolff instructed both drivers over the radio to keep it ‘clean’. In the final lap, Hamilton overtook his teammate – a deserved fourth place as a farewell gift at Mercedes. It’s hard not to speculate what could have been if he hadn’t botched the qualification.”
