Lando Norris Crowned F1 World Champion: “A Huge Thank You to Everyone at McLaren, My Mom, and My Dad!”
In a thrilling finale to the 2025 Formula 1 season, Lando Norris has etched his name into the annals of motorsport history by clinching his first World Championship. The McLaren superstar secured his championship title with a hard-fought third-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, behind the dominant Max Verstappen and the rising star Oscar Piastri. At just 26 years old, Norris has become the first McLaren driver to claim the prestigious title since Lewis Hamilton’s triumph in 2008, ending a 17-year drought for the iconic team.
Norris faced a fiercely competitive field as he lost his second position to Piastri on the opening lap, with the relentless Charles Leclerc breathing down his neck throughout the race. However, the young Briton’s strategic prowess and composure allowed him to maintain his podium position, ensuring he garnered the crucial points necessary for the championship. While Verstappen showcased his commanding form to take the race victory by a comfortable margin, he refrained from employing defensive tactics that could have jeopardized Norris’s title hopes.
Norris embarked on this pivotal race with a 12-point advantage over Verstappen, knowing that a simple podium finish would mathematically secure his championship. His cautious yet effective race strategy proved to be the key to victory, despite the tactical pressure from his rivals who were eager to snatch the title from his grasp.
Overflowing with emotion after crossing the finish line, Norris exclaimed, “I haven’t cried in a long time! I didn’t think I would cry, but I did! It’s been a long journey. First of all, a huge thank you to my guys, everyone at McLaren, my mom, my dad—they are the ones who have supported me from the very beginning.” The new champion acknowledged the challenges he faced, praising his team for their unwavering support through the highs and lows of the season: “It’s been a long journey with me and McLaren. I’ve been with them for nine years. We’ve gone through many tough moments and many good ones. I feel that I delivered my part to the team this year, and I’m so proud of that.”
Reflecting on the race’s pivotal moments, Norris recounted his intense battle with Yuki Tsunoda, stating, “It’s impossible not to think about it. I knew it was a long race, and we’ve seen so many times that anything can happen in F1. I kept pushing until the last few laps when I could ease off a bit. I wanted to fight until the end, and that’s what we did, especially with Max chasing me the entire race and Oscar closing in at the end. They certainly didn’t make it easy for me this year.”
Norris’s remarkable achievement signifies a monumental shift in F1 dynamics, as he becomes the third driver in modern history to capture the championship in his seventh season. This victory not only exemplifies his growth from the junior categories to the pinnacle of global motorsport but also reignites the McLaren legacy, a team once synonymous with dominance in the sport.
As the confetti fell and the celebrations erupted, Lando Norris emerged not just as a champion but as a beacon of hope for McLaren and a new generation of drivers. His victory is not just a personal triumph but a resounding statement that perseverance and teamwork can lead to greatness on the world’s biggest racing stage.








