LANDO NORRIS: THE NEW ERA OF BRITISH CHAMPIONS IN FORMULA 1

In a thrilling 2025 F1 season finale, Lando Norris clinched his first-ever Formula 1 World Championship, becoming the first Brit to win since Lewis Hamilton in 2020. Written by Ruzgar, this article takes you from Norris’s karting roots to his title-winning triumph, covering every twist, crash, and champagne spray along the way.

By Ruzgar.

Formula 1 has seen many Brits wear the crown of world champion. Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, Jenson Button, and the most liked at this time, Sir Lewis Hamilton, to name a few, are now joined by Lando Norris. He is the first British world drivers' champion since Lewis Hamilton’s 7th world title in the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix, and McLaren’s first drivers’ championship since Hamilton's maiden title win in 2008.

The Victory

The 26-year-old Bristolian came in 3rd place in the 24th and final round of the Formula 1 World Championship, held on the 7th of December 2025 at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, securing his 1st world championship. He defeated 4-time champion and race winner, Dutchman Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing, and his McLaren teammate, Aussie Oscar Piastri.

Norris came into the final race as the championship leader and, as the chequered flag waved, crossed the finish line with 7 wins and 18 podium finishes under his belt. He was crowned world champion, only 2 points clear of Verstappen, who had mounted an incredible comeback drive after the summer break. Piastri, the former championship leader and Norris’s teammate, finished 3rd in the standings following a series of crashes and performance issues.

The Celebration

After Norris crossed the finish line, McLaren Team CEO Zak Brown was heard on the radio humorously saying, "Uhhhhh, Lando, this is Zak from McLaren. Is this the World Champion Hotline?" which was described as cringeworthy by fans online. Norris also performed celebratory ‘doughnuts’ on the main straight despite explicit team orders of "no burnouts." His parents, Adam and Cisca, were also present, making for an emotional reunion.

Multiple media outlets also reported that he partied until early morning, racking up an unfathomable drinks bill and attempting to get a chicken nuggets breakfast from McDonald’s but settling for a chicken sausage, egg McMuffin due to the early hours, which he apparently did not enjoy. Two days later, during post-season testing, Norris debuted a new helmet design with the fluorescent yellow background of its abstract style replaced by a celebratory gold colour.

From Karting Prodigy to World Champion

Lando Norris was born in Bristol, UK on the 13th of November 1999. In 2008, at age 8, he began karting and winning multiple titles such as the CIK-FIA European Championship in the KF-Junior class, the CIK-FIA International Super Cup, and the WSK Super Cup in 2013. He won the CIK-FIA World Championship in the KF class the next year, becoming the youngest champion of that category at 14.

In 2014, for car racing, he debuted in the Ginetta Junior Championship and finished 3rd in the standings. In 2015, he signed with Carlin Motorsport to race in the MSA Formula Championship (currently the F4 British Championship). He won the championship with 8 wins, 10 pole positions, and 14 podiums. He also made brief appearances in the ADAC and Italian Formula 4 Championships, claiming 6 podiums.

In 2016, he competed in the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand, winning 6 races. Later, he returned to Europe, competing in the Eurocup and Northern European Cup of Formula Renault 2.0. He also appeared part-time in the BRDC British F3 Championship and entered 2 races in the European Formula 3 Championship, later securing a full-time seat with Carlin for the 2017 season, where he won his 5th championship in 4 years with 11 podiums, 9 wins, and 8 poles.

The same year, he debuted in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Campos Racing and finished runner-up to George Russell with Carlin in 2018. In late 2017, Norris became McLaren’s official test driver in F1, having joined their Driver Development Program earlier in the year. He drove in multiple F1 free practice sessions for the team before finally making his Formula 1 debut in 2019.

The next year, in 2020, he got his first podium at the Austrian Grand Prix, his first pole position at the Russian Grand Prix, and his first win at the 2024 Miami Grand Prix. Through his skilled and consistent performance over the years, he carried himself to the most prestigious title in motorsports: Formula 1 World Drivers Champion.

What Happened in 2025 and What to Expect in 2026

2025 was a season of many firsts, with the debut of many drivers like Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar achieving their maiden podiums, alongside Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg achieving a podium at the 2025 British Grand Prix after 239 race starts, holding the record for the longest wait for a maiden podium in Formula 1. The season was also marked by Lewis Hamilton's struggles in his debut season for Ferrari, alongside the loss of his dog Roscoe, and the 3-way title battle between teammates Norris and Piastri and the dominant Verstappen charging for his 5th world title in a row.

The 2026 season will be completely different, with new regulations making cars lighter and introducing environmentally friendlier power units. These units will have a 50/50 split between combustion engines and battery power, alongside the use of sustainable fuels. There will be improved overtaking opportunities through a system that provides a burst of battery power when a driver is within one second of the car ahead, and the elimination of DRS (Drag Reduction System) in favour of active aerodynamics such as moveable front and rear wings.

Two new teams are also joining the sport, with Sauber being acquired and rebranded as Audi and using a power unit manufactured by them, and Cadillac joining the grid as the 11th team with drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez. These new developments will be seen fully at pre-season tests in January and February, but until March 2026, when the 5 lights go out in Melbourne, Australia, kicking off the 2026 season where Lando Norris will be running car number 1.

By Ruzgar.