An elated Enea Bastianini said Gresini "have all cried" after his emotional maiden MotoGP victory at the season-opening race in Qatar.
The 24-year-old took the top step on the podium for the first time in the premier class after passing Pol Espargaro with four laps to go under the lights at the Lusail International Circuit.
Espargaro led for the majority of the race after storming from sixth to first at the start, but Bastianini capitalised on the Repsol Honda rider's fading tyres to pass him on the inside and go on to take the chequered flag.
It was Gresini's first MotoGP triumph since 2006 and came just over a year after the death of their team principal Fausto Gresini.
Nadia Padovani, Gresini's wife who is now the team principal and owner, was in tears after 2021 rookie Bastianini crossed the finishing line, and she was not the only one.
Bastianini said: "It is such an emotional day for all of the team. We have all cried at the end of the race.
"We did a very good job from most of the testing and this weekend. The set-up of the bike was incredible, we worked very well to prepare for the race and this morning in the warm-up when I saw we had really good pace I thought I can have a good race.
"My decision was to stay with the medium of the rear (tyre). That was the best decision for me, I pushed in my style in the last seven to eight laps and I won the race."
Brad Binder took second and Espargaro was third after going wide when he was passed by Bastianini and subsequently losing another place, with Marc Marquez fifth behind Aleix Espargaro.
Bastianini knows he has a whole host of top-class riders to do battle with as he attempts to build on his first win.
The Italian added: "Pol Espargaro was so fast, he saved his tyres very well. This is a very good step for me, and now it's going to be very competitive. Binder also had a really good race, and it was not easy for me to win but I did it.
"In MotoGP it's not easy because many riders are so fast, and sometimes it's not possible to be on the front, but I am always going to do my best."
Reigning champion Fabio Quartararo could only finish ninth.
Norris victory seals Constructors' Championship for McLaren
Lando Norris won from pole at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to ensure McLaren won the Formula One Constructors' Championship.
McLaren knew a victory on Sunday would ensure their first title since 1998, and despite a dramatic start, Norris ultimately got the job done as he led through the entire 58 laps.
Norris held off the Ferrari's of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, with the latter charging up from 19th to claim a podium finish.
Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, capped off his Mercedes career - before he replaces Sainz at Ferrari - in style, flying up from 16th to finish fourth, ahead of his team-mate George Russell, who gave way to the seven-time world champion on the final lap.
A chaotic first corner caused plenty of concern for McLaren, as Oscar Piastri was clipped by four-time reigning champion Max Verstappen.
Piastri spun off the track and returned with plenty of ground to make up on the rest of the field, and matters were made even more complicated for the Australian when he received a penalty for colliding with Franco Colapinto.
Verstappen was penalised too, for causing that early clash with Piastri.
It was a poor day for Verstappen's team-mate Sergio Perez, who was potentially making his final appearance for Red Bull.
He bowed out after less than one lap, after a collision with Valtteri Bottas, who himself was forced to retire later on, potentially bringing the curtain down on his F1 career, with the Finn expected to be a reserve driver next season at Mercedes.
Yet despite the drama behind him, and the brilliant drive from Leclerc that applied even more pressure, Norris kept his cool at the front, never offering an opportunity to Sainz, who occupied second throughout.
"You all deserve this. Thank you so much. It's been a special year. Next year is going to be my year too," said Norris over the team radio after he crossed the finish line, with McLaren winning the title by 14 points.
Data Debrief: McLaren make their mark
Norris and Piastri were not even born when McLaren last won a team title, while the 26 years since that last victory is the longest such gap in F1 history. It is the first time since 2009 that a team other than Mercedes or Red Bull have won the championship.
Hamilton, meanwhile, drew the curtain down on his spectacular Mercedes career with one last hurrah.
During his time with the team, he set the records for the most wins (105), most pole positions (104) and podium finishes (202). However, he did finish a season outside of the top six for the first time in his career.
It was a great effort from Ferrari, who were always up against it this weekend, especially after Leclerc was handed a 10-place penalty for a battery change. He at least charged back to finish on the podium for the 13th time in 2024.
Top 10
1. Lando Norris (McLaren)
2. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
4. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
5. George Russell (Mercedes)
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
7. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
8. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
9. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
10. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Drivers'
1. Max Verstappen - 437 (C)
2. Lando Norris - 374
3. Charles Leclerc - 356
Constructors'
1. McLaren - 666
2. Ferrari - 652
3. Red Bull - 589
Wolff apologises as 'idiotic' mistakes cost Hamilton on Mercedes farewell
Toto Wolff has apologised to Lewis Hamilton after "idiotic" mistakes led to the seven-time world champion qualifying in 16th for his final grand prix with Mercedes.
Hamilton, who will join Ferrari when his glittering spell with the Silver Arrows comes to an end after Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, endured a nightmare qualifying session on Saturday.
He ran as one of the five quickest drivers in practice, only to crash out in Q1 for the third time in his last six races.
Wolff was livid after the conclusion of qualifying, in which Hamilton placed 18th but gained two places due to penalties for Charles Leclerc and Alex Albon.
The Mercedes team principal was infuriated by Hamilton being sent back onto the track too late at the end of the session, causing him to be held up by other cars before he had the misfortune of running over a dislodged bollard on his final lap.
"I just need to apologise to Lewis and also everyone in the team that worked so hard in making it a great end for him," the Mercedes team principal told Sky Sports F1.
"He was the quicker guy with that set-up we chose on the car to also experiment for next year and we totally let him down.
"An idiotic mistake of not going earlier. Inexcusable, inexcusable.
"I have rarely been so down about what has happened. Maybe it summarises the last races we have had with him, but this is the worst part of it because it was just idiotic."
Lando Norris will start on pole with team-mate Oscar Piastri starting second, as McLaren battle Ferrari for the constructors' championship title.
Norris delighted with 'perfect day' as McLaren get one-two in Abu Dhabi qualifying
Lando Norris said it was a "perfect day" for McLaren as they locked out the front of the grid in qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Norris took pole – 0.208 seconds ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri in second – to give the team, who currently hold a 21-point lead in the constructors' championship, the best possible chance of their first title since 1998.
"It was a perfect, perfect day for us," said Norris. "Probably a little bit tougher than we were hoping for, we’ve been quick all weekend.
"We were pleased with the one-two, but it was a bit trickier than what we would have liked. My lap in the end was strong, and it was just how we wanted to end today."
But despite the brilliant showing from the McLaren drivers, the pressure is still on with Ferrari their closest championship competition. Racing for them for the final time before a move to Williams, Carlos Sainz qualified in third, while Charles Leclerc will start the race at the back of the grid.
Leclerc had initially qualified in 13th, though saw his lap time in Q2 deleted for exceeding track limits and was given a 10-place grid penalty.
“I’m going to give it everything, already today I was pushing in qualifying like never before because I wanted pole position and to give myself a good chance for tomorrow as it might be my last battle for a win or a podium for a while," said Sainz.
“At the same time, I’m enjoying it as much as possible this last weekend, pushing flat out and tomorrow nothing to lose. We will go for it.”
Norris, meanwhile, was defiant in the hunt for a title.
"We have got to beat Ferrari. That’s the aim, but we’ve got to do it in style," he said.
"I want to win. We know what we have to do so we are keeping our heads down and staying focused. We are here to win and anything is possible.
"Tomorrow we are going to have a good chance at least with one of our cars and we will be giving it everything we’ve got. We know in the back of our minds what we really have to do to achieve our big goal."
Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton will start 16th on the grid in his final race for Mercedes. Hamilton initially qualified in 18th though was promoted two places owing to penalties for Leclerc and Alex Albon.
His decisive lap in Q1 had been ruined after his car collected a bollard that had earlier been dislodged by Kevin Magnussen's Haas as he tried to get out of Hamilton's way.
"You couldn't make it up," said Hamilton, on his bad luck.
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