The advice Lewis Hamilton gave to Lando Norris ahead of title-deciding Abu Dhabi GP

Lewis Hamilton revealed the calm, confidence-boosting advice he gave Lando Norris before the Abu Dhabi title decider

Lewis Hamilton has revealed the advice that he offered Lando Norris ahead of the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The McLaren driver went on to finish the race in third behind Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, which was enough to clinch his first championship title.

"I'm really, really happy for him," Hamilton told the media after the race. "He did such a great job this season."

The seven-time champion spoke with Norris ahead of the race and gave him some advice on dealing with the pressure of fighting for his first championship.

"I told him going into the weekend, just continue doing you. What you've been doing works, so don't change it. Go into the weekend and just take it one corner at a time.

"Clearly, that's what he did. Great to see another Brit win a championship. Awesome for the sport. It went right down to the last race. What more can you ask for?"

Norris's championship is the first drivers' title for McLaren since Hamilton's first championship in 2008. "They won the championship last year, but drivers' one, yes. It's great to see McLaren back up there," he added.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images

The McLaren driver made a noticeable mental turnaround during the season. After a reset during the summer break, he came back much stronger and seemed to handle the pressure with more ease.

When asked about Norris talking about mental health, Hamilton reiterated the importance of people showing vulnerability.

"I mean, I don't know... I can't really comment. I don't know what he said, so I can't really say much," Hamilton said. "I think it's great that people can show their vulnerability. It's a real thing in today's world. It should be taken seriously."

Hamilton finished the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in eighth, which meant he ended his first season with Ferrari in sixth with 156 points, 86 points behind his new team-mate Charles Leclerc.