The Wait Is Over: Lando Norris Lifts Formula 1 Championship Trophy

The Wait Is Over: Lando Norris Lifts Formula 1 Championship Trophy at FIA Gala

TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN—Lando Norris officially closed the book on a monumental 2025 Formula 1 season on Friday, finally getting his hands on the coveted World Drivers’ Championship trophy at the annual FIA Prize-Giving Gala.

The McLaren driver, who clinched his maiden title just last Sunday in a thrilling three-way finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, was the star attraction at the ceremony, which honoured the world champions across all FIA disciplines.

A Childhood Dream Realised

Norris, the 11th British driver to win the crown and the first for McLaren since Lewis Hamilton in 2008, appeared on stage to a roaring ovation, marking the end of a long journey that began over a decade ago.

Addressing the audience, a visibly proud Norris reflected on the magnitude of the moment, recalling a time he stood on the same stage as a karting champion 11 years prior.

“This is a lot of people’s dreams, a lot of racing drivers’ dreams, and I got to finally live it—live that one dream that I had when I was a little kid,” Norris said. “It’s been amazing to grow up here, deliver it with McLaren, and to get to race all the World Champions that I’ve been up against—Lewis, Max, Seb, Fernando.”

Emotional Season and High-Stakes Battle

The 26-year-old’s title was secured by a mere two points after a ferocious battle with four-time champion Max Verstappen and his own McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri.

Norris secured seven victories throughout the 24-race calendar, displaying a new level of resilience after clawing back a significant deficit in the latter half of the season.

The championship fight went down to the wire in Abu Dhabi, where Norris’s gutsy third-place finish was just enough to seal the title. Speaking about the intensity of the campaign, he added a touch of his characteristic humour:

“I got very emotional on Sunday after the race, then got extremely drunk and had an amazing time!” he quipped.

In a light-hearted moment that quickly went viral, Norris accidentally dropped an expletive while discussing McLaren’s season, immediately asking, “Can I say that here? Oh sorry, I got fined! I can pay it off now!” drawing laughter from the FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who playfully threatened a symbolic fine.

Verstappen Sends Congratulations

Title rival Max Verstappen, who finished second in the standings, was notably absent from the event due to illness but sent a recorded video message of congratulations.

“A big congratulations to McLaren and especially Lando,” Verstappen said. “You guys had an unbelievable season, and it was really cool to be able to race against you guys until the end. Definitely enjoy it.”

Norris was joined on stage by his teammate Piastri and the McLaren leadership—CEO Zak Brown and Team Principal Andrea Stella—who also accepted the trophy for the team’s second consecutive Constructors’ Championship, cementing 2025 as one of the most successful years in the Woking-based team’s history.