Lando Norris awkwardly took the oath in entrance of FIA president Mohamed Ben Sulayem whereas accepting the F1 Drivers’ Champion trophy.
5 days after securing his first world title with a third-place end on the last race of the season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Norris was formally topped world champion and obtained the trophy at an FIA awards ceremony in Uzbekistan.
In his acceptance speech on Friday night time, Norris had a humorous change with re-elected FIA president Ben Sulayem, however the 26-year-old Briton used expletives as he mirrored on his title marketing campaign.
“I and we now have had our share of failures and failures. Can I say that right here? Am I okay?” Norris stated on stage in Tashkent.
Ben Sulayem, who was fined for his involvement within the FIA’s crackdown on drivers who yelled abuse exterior their automobiles, jokingly replied: “Ten thousand!”
Norris continued, “Oh, I am sorry, I used to be fined! Now I pays it again!”
There was a clumsy second between the pair when Ben Sulayem repeated his conduct within the drivers’ cool-down room after the ultimate race of the season at Yas Marina, ruffling Norris’ hair.
“I used to be going to superb you 5,000 euros, however after I tousled my hair, I feel I would like a superb now due to your hair,” Ben Sulayem added.
Norris displays on the title “Dream”
Norris paid tribute to McLaren, title rival teammate Oscar Piastri and Crimson Bull’s Max Verstappen, who led him to the world championship by two factors.
“It was unbelievable,” Norris stated. “Clearly it is a dream of lots of people, a dream of lots of racing drivers and I am lastly residing it. Residing that dream that I had once I was little.”
“Congratulations and thanks to McLaren, the crew I’ve been with for therefore a few years. This crew has offered each of us with nice automobiles which have made our lives a lot simpler, generally even higher, and have allowed us to carry residence so many wins till the top of the season.”
“My nice teammate, Mr. Piastri, has helped me develop rather a lot over the previous few seasons and has helped us develop into the crew we’re at present, one which has received two consecutive constructors’ championships.
“In fact, to Max, for all the time difficult us and placing strain on us and doing what Max all the time does.”
Norris continued: “It has been nice to have the ability to develop with so lots of you right here, to do it with McLaren and to have the ability to race with all of the world champions I’ve raced in opposition to, like Lewis (Hamilton), Max (Verstappen), Seb (Vettel) and Fernando (Alonso).”
“All the nice drivers that I appeared as much as and watched rising up, I get an opportunity to race in opposition to them, beat them and present what I can do in opposition to them, and I used to be in a position to do this this 12 months.
“I am very proud and naturally very comfortable. I used to be very emotional on Sunday after the race, obtained very drunk afterwards and had a good time!”
