LEWIS HAMILTON interrupted Lando Norris’ live TV interview to personally congratulate the new F1 world champion.
Norris finished third at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to hold off race winner Max Verstappen and team-mate Oscar Piastri in the Drivers’ Championship – becoming the 11th British title winner in the process.
Hamilton was the most recent Brit to win it, with the last of his seven-strong haul coming in 2020.
This has been a tough season for the veteran, who finished with 86 fewer points than Charles Leclerc in his first year at Ferrari.
But that didn’t stop him offering up a touch of class as he approached Norris after the race.
During a handshake and a hug, microphones picked up Hamilton saying: “So happy for you. I told you.”
Norris replied: “I know, I appreciate the words.”
In his own interview, Hamilton shed light on the advice he shared to help Norris clinch his first world title.
He said: “I’m really happy for him. Winning your first World Championship is truly special.
“[The] UK continues to pump out great drivers, and I know what the feeling is also when you’re coming into this race and fighting for your first championship, it’s nerve-wracking.
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“I’m just really proud of him. Before the weekend, I told him what he does works, so don’t change anything, and I guess that’s what he did.”
Post-race celebrations were jubilant in the Norris camp – the 26-year-old having been a whopping 34 points behind Piastri after August’s Dutch Grand Prix.
Norris – now one of the Sports Personality of the Year favourites – kissed partner Magui Corceiro and embraced his parents in emotional scenes at Yas Marina.
And it was all made sweeter by the grit and determination he showed to claw back the deficit to Piastri and stave off the charging Verstappen.
Norris said: “My best performances this year came when I needed them the most – the second half of the season when I was a little bit on the back foot, that’s when I did the best, when I showed the most in me.
“I’m proud. I’ve got my family here, my girlfriend here, I would hate to embarrass them. This is for my mum and dad, they let me chase this dream.”
