Lewis Hamilton passed on his congratulations to Lando Norris and revealed the simple piece of advice he gave the McLaren driver before he became the new F1 world champion.
Norris clinched his maiden Drivers’ Championship with a third-place finish in Sunday’s tense and thrilling Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, becoming the 11th Brit to win the title in the process.
While defending champion Max Verstappen came out on top at the Yas Marina Circuit, the Red Bull driver was ultimately unable to close the gap on his close friend Norris – who ended the season two points better off at the summit.
It represents the narrowest margin to determine a championship since as far back as 2008, when Hamilton beat Felipe Massa to the crown by just a point.
Norris’ McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri came second in Abu Dhabi and had to settle for third spot in the overall standings after seven wins and 16 podium finishes across the campaign.
It proved another weekend to forget for Hamilton, meanwhile, who came home in eighth, 86 points adrift of Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc down in sixth.
The disappointment was etched across Hamilton’s face as he addressed the media shortly after Sunday’s race and there may be some soul-searching ahead for the seven-time world champion over the coming weeks and months.
However, Hamilton took the opportunity to send a classy message to Norris on his triumph, underlining just how ‘proud’ he was of his fellow countryman.
‘I’m really, really happy for him,’ Hamilton told Sky Sports.
‘Winning your first world championship is truly special. The UK continues to pump out great drivers.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
‘I know what the feeling is also when you’re coming into this race and fighting for your first championship, it’s nerve-wracking.
‘I’m just really proud of him.’
Asked if there were any pearls of wisdom he had given Norris before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Hamilton replied: ‘Before the weekend I just told him what he’s been doing works so don’t change anything.
‘I guess that’s what he did.’
There has been some suggestions that Hamilton could decide to call it a day on the back of his wretched debut season with Ferrari.
But Nico Rosberg encouraged his old Mercedes team-mate to ignore talk of retirement after his ‘nightmare’ campaign and instead look to ‘find some of that old magic again’ next year.
‘It’s been a terrible season for him and it’s not a worthy way to end his career,’ Rosberg said on Sky Sports from the paddock.
‘It’s so hard for him to deal with that because he’s being beaten by his team-mate, struggling to get into Q2, spinning on his own – it’s a real nightmare.
‘I think it’s even worse than it looks from the outside for him personally.
‘He’s the greatest, and we’re never going to debate that, but still, it’s putting a little scratch on his legacy now.’
Rosberg added: ‘It’s horribly tough and that’s why actually, Martin [Brunt], do you think he might call it a day on this incredible career and retire?
‘I think he has to continue because stopping now would be… that’s not cool.
‘He only just started this Ferrari project and to give up, in a way, after only one season, I think that doesn’t work.
‘He has to continue, give it another shot and hope he feels comfortable in that car next year and maybe the car is also a good car because this year’s car was not great.’
According to Rosberg, qualifying proved to be Hamilton’s ‘great struggle’ this season and – after a short break – he should set his sights on putting things right again next season.
‘His great struggle this year was qualifying pace,’ he continued.
‘There was still these flashes of brilliance in the race that we kept on seeing again. It was just that qualifying pace.
‘With the car being so different next year, maybe he can find some of that old magic again so the hope is still there, definitely.’
Rosberg’s Sky Sports colleague Martin Brunt agreed and admitted he would be ‘very surprised’ to see Hamilton bring an end to his glittering career.
Brunt said: ‘The trouble is that his stats and his reputation is not being enhanced, but I would have thought that he’ll wait and see if Ferrari get it together for 2026, sees how he’s going, see how they’re going and whether he’s enjoying it.
‘I think if we were asking that question a year from now when he’s had a difficult season, it would be completely different.
‘I would be very surprised if he just switches it off this winter.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.