Lando Norris has become Britain’s newest Formula One world champion after holding his nerve in a thrilling title fight in Abu Dhabi to secure his first championship and end the country’s five-year wait for another motorsport hero.
The 26-year-old McLaren driver, who grew up in Bristol and has long spoken of idolizing Lewis Hamilton, finished third in the season finale, enough to secure the title by just two points after a hard-fought battle with Max Verstappen and his teammate Oscar Piastri. He becomes Britain’s 11th world champion and the first since Hamilton won his seventh title in 2020.
As Norris crossed the finish line, he appeared emotional and broke down on the team radio before being congratulated by McLaren CEO Zak Brown.
“Thank you so much, guys. You made a child’s dream come true,” he told the team through tears. “I love you mom, I love you dad. Thank you for everything.”
Norris went into the final race with his title hopes shattered after he and Piastri were disqualified from the previous Grand Prix for a technical infringement, an episode that dramatically reignited the battle for the championship and raised questions about whether he could hold his nerve.
Norris started second behind Verstappen and was overtaken by Piastri on the first lap, briefly putting his title hopes under pressure. But the McLaren driver kept his balance, controlled his pace and executed a calculated, flawless drive to score the points he needed.
Verstappen, seeking his fifth title in a row, and Piastri, chasing his first title, battled tirelessly over 90 minutes of strategic tension – but neither could equal the Brit’s points lead.
As soon as Norris stepped out of the papaya orange McLaren, his helmet off and his eyes red, Yas Marina erupted in cheers. His mother, Cisca Norris, was the first to hug him, followed by Piastri and senior team members.
“I haven’t cried for a while,” Norris admitted in parc fermé. “I didn’t think I would cry, but I did. It’s been such a long journey. Not many people experience something like that in Formula 1. I’m very proud of myself, but I’m even more proud of everyone in the team.”
Norris’ path to the summit was marked by years of bribery, global travel and the support of his family. The son of company founder Adam Norris, who built e-mobility company Pure, Lando started karting at the age of six, left school early to pursue motorsports full-time, and quickly rose through Europe’s junior categories before joining McLaren’s F1 program.
His father said shortly after the checkered flag: “It was a really long, hard journey. Longer than you think. There were a lot of journeys to strange and wonderful places. He was always fast and enjoyed it more than anyone else.”
Celebrities such as Emily Ratajkowski, Gordon Ramsay and Thierry Henry watched the drama from the paddock in Abu Dhabi.
Norris’ partner, model and actress Magui Corceiro, was in the McLaren pits the entire time and was visibly emotional when he became world champion. The couple, who have been together on and off for two years, embraced trackside as the celebrations began.
The championship marks a turning point for McLaren, which just a few seasons ago was struggling at the back of the grid. Under Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella, the team has undergone a profound transformation, culminating in one of the most impressive resurgences of competition in recent F1 history.
Norris, who has spent his entire Formula 1 career with McLaren, paid tribute to the team’s revival.
“We’ve been through very difficult times and some great times. This year we fought until the last round,” he said. “Max and Oscar didn’t make it easy, but that’s what makes it feel so special.”
Norris now joins a lineage that includes Sir Jackie Stewart, James Hunt, Damon Hill, Jenson Button and Hamilton, but his arrival as champion feels decidedly modern. A driver influenced by both the fan base of the digital age and the classic racing discipline, he has become one of the most popular figures in Formula 1 far beyond the British Isles.
And now officially world champion.
