India, Dec. 8 -- No matter how calm he sounded on the radio, Lando Norris was going through a plethora of emotions, handling his nerves and extreme pressure under the yellow-and-black crash helmet at an intensely fought season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.

Starting second, he had already been passed by McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in a brilliant move on Lap 1, pushing him to third. Finishing one spot lower and out of podium would have meant the world championship slipping out of his grasp.

The 26-year-old then came under pressure from the Ferrari of fourth-placed Charles Leclerc. But the Briton defended well and kept himself out of the Ferrari's DRS range to take the chequered flag in third place - exactly what was required o...