KTM to Implement Additional Layoffs Due to Economic Hardships

An additional 500 positions will be eliminated at KTM as it grapples with financial difficulties.

500 employees at KTM are on the verge of losing their jobs as the Austrian bike maker announces layoffs.

Following the initial dismissal of 250 employees, KTM is set to further reduce its workforce by 500 positions. This move is a component of the company's broader restructuring strategy designed to address its present economic challenges, cumulatively affecting 750 jobs.

According to information from the Austrian news outlet Der Standard, the timeline for the layoffs has not been established yet. However, Peter Vogl, the administrator in charge of the restructuring, is optimistic that KTM AG and its affiliated entities, KTM Components and KTM F&E, will remain operational once the restructuring is completed.

Further investigations by Der Standard have revealed that KTM owes money to 1,630 creditors, encompassing nearly 180 banks, with the total debt amounting to €796 million.

According to Der Standard, KTM's debtors are listed on a document that spans 34 pages. The initial 13 pages detail creditors based in Austria, while the rest encompass a diverse group of international entities from countries such as Germany, India (home to Bajaj Auto, a partial owner of KTM), France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland, Ireland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Thailand, Taiwan, China, South Korea, Myanmar, Australia, and Japan.

In addition to the many banking institutions, the list of lenders also encompasses smaller entities like bakeries and providers of coffee.

KTM continues its MotoGP efforts into 2025, but the progression of its RC16 model is on hold before the upcoming season.

KTM has an agreement in place to continue competing in MotoGP up until the conclusion of the 2026 season.

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Pecco Bagnaia's 2024 MotoGP Season to Be Featured in Three-Part Documentary Series

A newly unveiled three-part series will spotlight Francesco Bagnaia, who has clinched the MotoGP World Champion title twice.

The series, a collaborative effort between Ducati and MotoGP, chronicles Bagnaia's journey through the 2024 World Championship season.

In 2024, Bagnaia went head-to-head with Jorge Martin for the second consecutive year in their battle for the MotoGP World Championship, with the Italian rider aiming for his third consecutive title.

In the end, despite Bagnaia not retaining his championship, he secured victories in 11 Grand Prix races and achieved a total of 18 wins when including Sprint events.

The 2024 season's outstanding performance propelled Bagnaia into the top-10 of the all-time winners in the premier class, as his total victories reached 29. Additionally, his win at the Malaysian Grand Prix represented his 50th podium finish in MotoGP, achieved over the course of 106 races.

The freshly revealed documentary series, consisting of three parts, is set to be released on the Ducati YouTube channel. It aims to provide an exclusive glimpse into the operations of the Italian Ducati Lenovo Team, focusing on three Grand Prix events at the latter part of the 2024 season.

Based on the preview clip provided, the documentary is set to highlight both the triumphs and challenges faced by Bagnaia during the 2024 season, including difficulties with race starts and significant errors that resulted in him losing the MotoGP title. Additionally, it looks like there will be intense exchanges shown between Bagnaia and his chief mechanic, Christian Gabbarini, as well as with the Ducati Lenovo Team's manager, Davide Tardozzi.

The excitement escalates, aspirations persist! 🔥 A trilogy. Three Grand Prix events. Every ounce of dedication, challenge, and emotion. 🎞️ Presenting “Dream On: Ducati and Bagnaia’s Quest for Victory”. 📆 Catch the premiere of Episode 1 on Sunday, Dec 15, via @ducatimotor on YouTube. 🍿✍🏼 Don't forget to save the date! 🏁#ForzaDucati pic.twitter.com/HCJwcKvVKo— Ducati Corse (@ducaticorse) December 11, 2024

The inaugural episode of the series, named Dream On: Ducati and Bagnaia's Quest for Triumph, is scheduled for release this coming Sunday, December 15.

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"Max Verstappen defends Sergio Perez amidst Red Bull challenges"

"Verstappen stated that the criticism towards Perez has been overly severe, emphasizing that Perez is far from foolish."

Max Verstappen has commented on Sergio Perez's challenging season in F1 with Red Bull, stating “he’s not a fool”.

Perez's continued association with Red Bull hangs in the balance following a meeting among shareholders on Monday to deliberate on the matter.

The lackluster performance of the Mexican driver adversely affected Red Bull's quest for the constructors' championship, positioning them in third place, trailing behind McLaren and Ferrari.

Consequently, Red Bull is actively contemplating a switch, with either Yuki Tsunoda or Liam Lawson being potential replacements.

Following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, Verstappen faced questions once more regarding Perez's career prospects.

"It's in the team's hands," he mentioned. "Checo and I have always had a good collaboration. He's genuinely a wonderful person."

"Finding a teammate of his caliber is quite unusual; he's consistently been outstanding and is genuinely a kind person."

"I collaborate with him every single weekend, without fail. I believe people have been overly critical towards him.

"Indeed, there might have been instances where weekends could have improved. However, the criticism he has faced at times is overly severe, given that he's far from foolish."

"He's consistently been seen as an exceptional driver. The journey has been challenging, but that challenge has extended to the entire team, given there were moments when handling the drive was particularly hard."

Will it be Tsunoda or Lawson joining Red Bull?

The indications seem to favor Lawson being promoted to partner with Verstappen at Red Bull for the upcoming season.

Despite Lawson being outperformed in qualifications 6-0 by Tsunoda, the difference in their performance – with the exception of the event in Las Vegas – was frequently narrower than one tenth.

Lawson's ability to adjust to Formula 1 with minimal experience has caught the attention of Red Bull's top brass, though Tsunoda's disposition continues to raise some eyebrows.

Tsunoda delivered a strong performance during the Abu Dhabi post-season test.

He stated that adjusting to the Red Bull RB20 was quite straightforward, attributing this to how well it matched his way of driving.

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Lewis Hamilton identifies his top pick for "greatest world champion" amid his ongoing Mercedes departure series.

"Lewis Hamilton reveals his choice for the "greatest world champion" during his final series with Mercedes."

Lewis Hamilton has praised ex-F1 competitor Sebastian Vettel, calling him "the greatest world champion that I'm acquainted with."

For numerous seasons, Hamilton and Vettel were prominent competitors in F1, engaging in unforgettable clashes.

In their initial championship battles, it was Vettel who came out on top, especially in 2010. That year, both were still in the running for the title at the season's final race in Abu Dhabi, a contest that also included Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber.

The competition between Hamilton and Vettel escalated during 2017 and 2018, as they spearheaded the efforts of Mercedes and Ferrari,

Hamilton succeeded in both campaigns, preventing Vettel from achieving his dream of mirroring his hero, Michael Schumacher, in securing championship glory for the Scuderia.

Addressing a gathering of supporters during his goodbye tour in Malaysia, Hamilton shared insights into his F1 journey and elaborated on what makes Vettel remarkable.

"He expressed that Seb stands out as the finest world champion he's acquainted with, emphasizing that Seb's talents surpass those of just a driver."

"He truly embodies compassion, demonstrating empathy and concern for others. Remarkably, he stands out as one of the few who has leveraged his influence to make a positive impact."

"I've encountered numerous famous individuals and many others. There are plenty who don't make time for other people.

"In my opinion, it's irrelevant how skilled he is at driving; his speed is unmatched. We've had some fantastic competitions together."

"In my opinion, the races we shared were unparalleled."

A catalyst for transformation away from the spotlight

Following a decline in his performance and a subsequent transition to Aston Martin, a team in F1's midfield, Vettel redirected his attention.

The German began to show growing interest in matters beyond Formula 1.

During the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, Vettel donned a t-shirt featuring a rainbow design before the race to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.

This measure stemmed from Hungary's suggestion of a contentious legislation that restricted educational institutions from covering topics related to homosexuality and transgender matters.

The ex-Red Bull racer has also raised his voice on matters of the environment and sustainability, topics he has remained dedicated to advocating for since his departure from Formula 1.

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Lewis Hamilton extends congratulations to McLaren following their victory in the F1 constructors' championship.

Lewis Hamilton has extended his congratulations to McLaren for clinching their first F1 constructors' title since 1998.

Lando Norris clinched the win at the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, ensuring McLaren took home the 2024 constructors' championship.

As the final race in Abu Dhabi approached, McLaren was ahead of Ferrari by 21 points in the standings.

Their chances were significantly boosted by Charles Leclerc’s disappointing qualifying performance and an engine penalty, placing him 19th on the starting lineup.

Nonetheless, the mishap involving Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen occurred simultaneously with Leclerc's remarkable launch, propelling the Ferrari pilot to the eighth position by the conclusion of the first lap.

Nevertheless, Norris withstood the challenge posed by Carlos Sainz, clinching his fourth victory of the season and ensuring McLaren secured the championship.

The Woking team has secured their first Formula 1 world championship since 2008, the year they clinched the drivers' title with Hamilton.

Hamilton expressed his congratulations to his old team through a post on social media. On his Instagram story, he shared: “Huge congrats to McLaren. Truly delighted for everyone, savor this moment.”

McLaren aims to secure the drivers’ title in 2025 with a focus on one of their racers.

Given that F1's rules will stay consistent through the winter, it's anticipated that McLaren will lead the pack as the racing season kicks off in Australia.

Overall, McLaren has maintained the quickest vehicle this season, yet mistakes by the drivers and flawed tactics have hindered them from increasing their tally of six wins.

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Lando Norris receives acclaim for his "champion-level" quickness, yet cautioned about potential "inner struggles"

Nico Rosberg evaluates Lando Norris's prospects for chasing a championship by 2025.

2016 Formula 1 champion Nico Rosberg thinks Lando Norris has shown incredible pace that's reminiscent of a world champion. However, he advises that Norris must address personal challenges if he aims to secure the championship title next year.

In 2024, Norris experienced his best season in Formula 1 thus far, finishing second only to Max Verstappen.

The British driver secured four wins and achieved pole position eight times, establishing himself as Verstappen's main competitor for the world championship.

At a certain moment, Norris appeared to be a contender for the championship, securing the lead position in Brazil, while Verstappen was notably behind, positioned 17th.

Nonetheless, a race filled with mistakes by Norris occurred at the same time as a superb performance from Verstappen, significantly tilting the championship odds in favor of the driver from the Netherlands.

Concluding the year on a high note, Norris secured a resounding win at the Yas Marina Circuit, delivering McLaren its first constructors’ championship since 1998.

On the Sky F1 podcast, Rosberg commended Norris for his extraordinary natural pace, yet cautioned that he must address the minor mistakes he committed over the season.

"Rosberg mentioned, 'His sheer velocity matches that of the top racers, including Max Verstappen. The speed he demonstrates is truly remarkable and akin to that of a world champion."

"Where we've noticed a few challenges for him is in his struggle with personal battles, which occasionally lead to mistakes."

Incredibly, Singapore stood out as the location where he managed to maintain a 20-second lead, narrowly avoiding crashing not once, but twice. This seemed somewhat odd. There's still room for improvement in minimizing errors, an aspect where Piastri shows more strength.

"Piastri may not reach the highest speeds, but his consistency and error-free performances stand out. Lando is now considered the top contender for next year's championship title."

Did Norris Miss a Golden Chance in 2024?

Despite Norris and McLaren's satisfaction with their development in 2024, did they let a prime chance slip away in the drivers' championship?

Inadequate strategic choices led to Norris missing out on victories in Canada and Britain, whereas suboptimal beginnings resulted in his defeat to Piastri in Hungary and Italy.

The positive development for McLaren is that they concluded the season possessing either the most robust vehicle or, at the very least, the most reliable one.

Given that the rules will stay consistent throughout the winter, their prospects for chasing a championship appear strong.

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Lewis Hamilton's performance in qualifying could turn his time with Ferrari into a challenging experience.

"He's definitely concerned – what happens if I keep up this level of performance?"

2016 Formula 1 champion Nico Rosberg has cautioned Lewis Hamilton that his struggles in qualifying could turn his time with Ferrari into “a painful experience”.

Hamilton faced a challenging last season at Mercedes, especially during the Saturday races.

George Russell emerged victorious in the qualifying battles, defeating Hamilton with a score of 19 to 5.

For just the second occasion in his Formula 1 tenure, Hamilton was outperformed in a qualifying duel by a teammate, with the initial instance occurring in 2016 against Rosberg.

During an appearance on the Sky F1 podcast, Rosberg discussed the reasons he believes his former teammate is worried about his qualifying speed as the next season approaches.

"Moving ahead, he's got a two-year stint with Ferrari. Without a doubt, he's going to be concerned – what happens if I keep performing like this?" Rosberg commented.

"Was the issue solely with the Mercedes, or was there another factor involved? What happens if my current situation extends to Ferrari? Should that occur, it would turn into a rather difficult journey, as that's not the purpose Ferrari brought him on board for.

"Ferrari brought him on board to match Leclerc's performance and compete for world titles. I believe he'll have concerns regarding this."

"We remain optimistic that with a fresh start at Ferrari, he will rediscover his exceptional driving skills that we are all familiar with."

Hamilton's recent struggles in qualifying have taken a toll on him

Hamilton's streak of disappointing results in qualifying towards the year's end has left him feeling disheartened.

He even made the striking confession that he's just not fast enough anymore.

Hamilton continues to be among the top performers in terms of race speed, but his subpar qualifying performances are leaving him with an excessive amount of catching up to do.

"Rosberg pointed out a significant issue within our sport, noting that failing to secure a high qualifying position can severely hinder performance. He emphasized that this remains true despite an athlete's ability to maintain exceptional pace during the actual race."

Time and again, it's evident that his speed during the race is incredibly impressive. Consistently qualifying in lower positions, almost as a rule, he admits to his own shortfall – acknowledging that he simply lacks the speed in the qualifying rounds.

This was a burden for him as the year concluded, primarily because he consistently found himself outperformed by a younger teammate. It's important to note, however, that despite being younger, his teammate is not a world champion but has secured victories in four races.

"Those of us in the know understand Russell's genius, yet doubts linger since he hasn't clinched a world championship title. Continuously facing defeat, especially against Lewis, who holds the record as the greatest of all time, is undeniably challenging."

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'Unmatched in qualifying rounds' – George Russell tipped to steer Mercedes to F1 championship triumph

Nico Rosberg has lauded George Russell for his performance in qualifying rounds when compared to Lewis Hamilton.

Nico Rosberg believes George Russell has what it takes to secure an F1 world championship title driving for Mercedes.

Russell had a successful 2024 F1 season, marking his return to victory at the Austrian Grand Prix.

The UK racer could have secured victory at Spa if not for being disqualified over a technical violation.

Russell surpassed Hamilton in the points tally, securing a higher position than him in the championship rankings for the second occasion in three years.

Undoubtedly, Russell's season was most remarkable for his outstanding performance in qualifying rounds.

Russell secured three pole positions and outperformed Hamilton on a Saturday, surpassing him in the qualifying face-off with a score of 19-5.

During a recent appearance on the Sky F1 podcast, Rosberg, a former Mercedes driver from 2010 to 2016, expressed his support for Russell's ability to clinch the world championship, provided he has the right equipment.

"George has the potential to become the World Champion. Provided that Mercedes supplies him with a competitive vehicle, he has what it takes to secure the World Championship," stated Rosberg.

During the qualifying rounds, he's unmatched in speed. One might argue that there are others, such as Verstappen, who are on par with him, but his performance in qualifying is truly exceptional. When it comes to racing, it's a similar story, although it's important to note that he's often measured against the best to ever compete in the sport.

"The comparison is being made between him and Lewis while they're in identical vehicles. Lewis is considered the greatest ever. George is nearly there, but it seems he occasionally lacks a bit in terms of speed during the race."

Questions emerge about Russell's speed during races

Despite Russell's exceptional ability in single-lap speeds, Rosberg remains skeptical about his performance over the course of a race.

"He also added, suggesting that as a driver, ultimately, you're the one responsible for configuring the car's setup."

You arrive at a choice. I ponder whether he might push the boundaries a bit too much, taking that extra aggressive leap that, while it might give you an edge in qualifying due to its extreme speed, could end up being a slight disadvantage during the race due to the setup.

"Perhaps he leans too hard on consistently qualifying, or there might be another factor at play. However, he must improve slightly in his racing. Given his performance this season, should the vehicle be up to par, he has the potential to secure a victory and become a world champion."

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Fabio Quartararo has not put all his hopes on Yamaha's V4 MotoGP engine. The new engine, which Yamaha is currently developing, may not be the ultimate solution to the team's recent struggles in performance.

In the summer of 2024, Yamaha revealed that it is working on a V4 engine for its MotoGP motorcycle, highlighting the company's efforts to regain competitive performance in the championship.

Despite Yamaha securing a championship victory just three years back with Fabio Quartararo, the Japanese manufacturer has not claimed a win since the German Grand Prix in 2022. Additionally, they did not achieve a podium finish throughout the entire 2024 season.

Since the start of the four-stroke era, Yamaha has predominantly used inline-four-cylinder engines, despite the growing trend towards V4 configurations.

Since Yamaha's distinct feature in the MotoGP lineup is its I4 engine, replacing it with a new V4 engine would likely level the playing field with its competitors.

Despite the engine being in the fairly initial phases of its development—so early, in fact, that the racers have not had the opportunity to test it—Quartararo remains unsure whether it will completely resolve the recent performance issues faced by the Iwata brand.

In an interview featured on the Spanish website Motosan, Quartararo expressed his belief that this is a necessary stage to go through, particularly because the V4 holds significant potential.

"Ducati, Aprilia, KTM, and Honda are all in the mix, with some aspects where they lag behind us, but in other areas, they excel."

"We'll need to consider many factors, but I haven't fully committed to the idea of a new engine."

Yamaha's work on a V4 engine aims to align them with the current standards in the competition, as Quartararo has pointed out. However, to truly compete with the European manufacturers, more efforts are required beyond just copying their engine setup.

Changes will be needed in various aspects, and since 2023, Quartararo has been convinced that Yamaha must completely overhaul its approach to work. The reason Yamaha managed to extend his contract through 2025 and 2026 is because they successfully demonstrated to the French racer that they are committed to implementing these changes. A significant measure they took was hiring engineer Max Bartolini from Ducati.

Quartararo confessed that he seriously thought about switching brands in September 2023.

"I requested numerous things: specific requirements, high-caliber engineers, and […] genuine commitment to the project. Since late November 2023, they have provided personnel, allocated a substantial budget for aerodynamics and the engine, and introduced new team members."

"I managed to hold an extended discussion with Max Bartolini."

Within the team and at Yamaha, there's a noticeable absence of someone with Max's capabilities. However, I chose to remain because the project was significant, with substantial investment involved. Additionally, Yamaha's loyalty, which propelled me to MotoGP when I was still relatively unknown, played a crucial role in my decision to stay.

"Considering all my requests and their efforts, it has also been a burden on the"

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"Max Verstappen comments on Sergio Perez's difficulties with Red Bull, stating, 'He's not foolish.' He added that criticism towards Perez has often been overly severe, emphasizing that Perez is not unintelligent."

Max Verstappen has commented on Sergio Perez's challenging season with Red Bull in Formula 1, asserting that "he's not foolish."

The future of Perez with Red Bull remains uncertain following a meeting reportedly held by shareholders on Monday to address the issue.

The Mexican driver's lackluster performance affected Red Bull's efforts in the constructors' championship, resulting in the team falling to third place behind McLaren and Ferrari.

Consequently, Red Bull is giving serious thought to the possibility of swapping him out for Yuki Tsunoda or Liam Lawson.

Following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, Verstappen was questioned once more regarding the future of Perez.

"I'm not sure. It's a decision for the team to make," he mentioned. "I've consistently had a good working relationship with Checo. He's genuinely a fantastic person."

"It's uncommon to have a teammate like him, someone who consistently performs well and is genuinely kind."

"I collaborate with him every weekend, consistently. In my opinion, he has faced a lot of unfair criticism from others."

"Certainly, there are weekends that might have gone more smoothly. However, at times, criticism directed at him has been quite severe, even though he's not lacking in intelligence."

He has consistently been seen as an excellent driver. The challenges have been significant, not just for him but for the entire team, as there were times when handling the vehicle proved to be extremely difficult.

Who will join Verstappen at Red Bull: Tsunoda or Lawson?

It seems increasingly likely that Lawson will be chosen to team up with Verstappen at Red Bull next season.

Despite Lawson being consistently outperformed by Tsunoda in qualifying sessions, with a score of 6-0, the difference in their times was frequently under a tenth of a second, except for the event in Las Vegas.

Red Bull's leadership has been impressed by how well Lawson has adjusted to Formula 1 despite having little experience, although there remain worries about Tsunoda's attitude.

During the post-season test in Abu Dhabi, Tsunoda showcased strong performance.

He stated that adjusting to the Red Bull RB20 was not challenging, as the car matched his driving preferences well.

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Lewis Hamilton identifies his "top world champion" amid his ongoing farewell tour with Mercedes, reflecting on the memorable races they shared.

Lewis Hamilton has praised his former Formula 1 competitor Sebastian Vettel, calling him "the greatest world champion I am familiar with."

For many years, Hamilton and Vettel were fierce competitors leading the Formula 1 races, engaging in some unforgettable duels.

Vettel came out on top in their initial title battles, particularly in 2010. During that season, both competitors were still vying for the championship as they approached the final race at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber also in the mix.

The competition between them became more heated during 2017 and 2018, as Hamilton and Vettel took charge of Mercedes and Ferrari.

Hamilton emerged victorious in both seasons, preventing Vettel from achieving his goal of following in the footsteps of his hero, Michael Schumacher, by securing championship victories for Ferrari.

During his farewell tour in Malaysia, Hamilton addressed a gathering of fans, sharing his thoughts on his Formula 1 journey and highlighting what makes Vettel exceptional.

"He stated that Seb is the greatest world champion he knows, as Seb is much more than just a racer."

"He is genuinely passionate, shows empathy, and is considerate towards others. In fact, he stands out as the only person who has attempted to use his influence for a positive cause."

"I have encountered numerous famous individuals and a variety of other people. Many of them don't make an effort to engage with others."

"For me, it means that no matter how skillfully he drives, his speed is always impressive. We've shared some fantastic races together."

"In my opinion, the races we had together were the most exceptional."

A catalyst for transformation away from the race circuit

Vettel's decline in performance and subsequent transition to a mid-tier position with Aston Martin led to a change in his priorities.

The German started to focus more on topics beyond Formula 1.

During the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, Vettel donned a t-shirt with a rainbow design before the race to support LGBTQ+ rights.

This legislation came about following Hungary's suggestion of a contentious law that restricts how schools can educate students on topics related to homosexuality and transgender matters.

The ex-Red Bull racer has also been outspoken about environmental and sustainability concerns, topics he has passionately supported since stepping away from Formula 1.

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Lewis Hamilton has extended his congratulations to McLaren following their victory in the F1 constructors' championship.

Lewis Hamilton has extended his congratulations to McLaren for securing their first F1 constructors' championship victory since 1998.

Lando Norris' win at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in Formula 1 clinched the 2024 constructors' title for McLaren.

Approaching the final race of the season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, McLaren was ahead of Ferrari by 21 points.

The team had a significant advantage because Charles Leclerc had a disappointing qualifying session and received an engine penalty, starting him in the 19th position on the grid.

Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri's clash with Max Verstappen occurred at the same time as Leclerc's impressive opening, where the Ferrari driver managed to move up to eighth place by the end of the first lap.

Nevertheless, Norris stood firm against Carlos Sainz's challenge, clinching his fourth victory of the season and ensuring McLaren's championship title.

The team from Woking has secured their first Formula 1 world championship since 2008, when they claimed the drivers’ title with Hamilton.

Hamilton used social media to send his congratulations to his old team for their win. On his Instagram story, he posted: "Huge congrats to McLaren. Thrilled for everyone, savor this moment."

McLaren aims to achieve a higher position in the 2025 F1 season, targeting the drivers' championship with one of their racers.

As Formula 1's rules remain unchanged during the off-season, McLaren is anticipated to be the leading team as they approach the opening race in Australia.

Overall, McLaren has been equipped with the quickest car this year, yet mistakes by their drivers and ineffective strategies have stopped them from increasing their tally of six wins.

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