Lando Norris has clinched his first Formula One drivers' championship, demonstrating that one doesn't need to be aggressive to succeed in the sport. His former McLaren teammate, Carlos Sainz, always believed in Norris's speed and potential. Norris secured the title by finishing third at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, narrowly beating four-time champion Max Verstappen by two points.
At 26 years and 24 days old, Norris is among the youngest to win an F1 title. He follows Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Max Verstappen, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Michael Schumacher in achieving this feat at a young age. Norris's victory adds him to the list of McLaren champions like Emerson Fittipaldi and Ayrton Senna.
With Norris's win, McLaren now boasts
eight different drivers who have won the championship with them. This includes legends such as Niki Lauda and Mika Hakkinen. The team's total of 13 titles is just behind Ferrari's record of 15. Great Britain leads with 21 driver titles overall, surpassing Germany's 12.
Carlos Sainz expressed his happiness for Norris during an interview with Sky Sports F1. "I'm very happy for him as a driver because he's always been extremely quick," Sainz said. He praised Norris for his talent and growth over the years, noting that he had the speed to become a multiple world champion.
Sainz highlighted how Norris defies typical stereotypes associated with world champions. "He's always stayed true to himself," Sainz remarked. He appreciated Norris's honesty about his struggles and emphasized that being nice doesn't hinder success in Formula One.
Making this our new screensaver #McLaren pic.twitter.com/2K85fszqli
- McLaren (@McLarenF1) December 8, 2025
Norris began his career alongside Sainz at McLaren before Sainz moved to Ferrari and later Williams. Reflecting on their time together, Sainz noted how Norris developed significantly over the years. "Along the way, he's developed his skills a lot," he added.
Norris’s achievement shows that maintaining one's personality can coexist with success in high-pressure environments like Formula One. His journey inspires others by proving that kindness and authenticity can lead to triumphs on the global stage.
