The Winner Takes It All

Lando Norris, Formula One World Champion

Before Sunday, I began writing three articles on the championship contenders ahead of the crowning. I wanted to ensure to release it to celebrate them the same day, but it felt quite unnatural, not finding the words and basing the article of stats, but here I am, Monday morning, writing this article after watching Lando Norris secure his first championship. 

It was surreal, there is nothing more wholesome than seeing a driver win their first championship after watching them grow in the more so ever competitive sport, whether you support the driver or not, agree with the team stance or not, each individual driver works hard to prove they deserve where they stand, and after a hard working seven years in the sport, Lando Norris deserves this championship title.

It has been 2458 days (as of Monday, 8th December 2025) since Lando Norris debuted his Formula 1 career at the 2019 Australian Grand Prix. Starting 152 races, making it the most starts for a McLaren driver, standing on the podium 44 times, taking pole 16 times, winning 11 races and solidifying a total of 1430 points throughout his F1 career, as of the 7th December 2025, Lando Norris is the 2025 Formula 1 World Champion. 

This driver’s championship secured McLaren’s first driver’s championship since 2008, with England’s Lewis Hamilton securing his first title. It also makes Lando Norris the 35th different world champion in the sport, taking the trophy in the 75th year of Formula 1. 

It has been quite the journey from a 2019 rookie to a 2025 World Champion and like all drivers, there is a story behind the visor. A story to celebrate with the team, family, friends and support system. 

How exactly did the night under the sky go about? Max Verstappen started on pole, Lando Norris started in P2, with Oscar Piastri in P3. All three championship contenders are fighting to take home the trophy throughout the entire race. The race survived past turn one, where, towards the end of the lap, Oscar Piastri overtook Lando Norris to secure P2, working to fight the defending champion in P1. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc made an impression on the McLaren driver Lando Norris.

While Red Bull had their driver, Yuki Tsunoda, fighting to put pressure on Norris in his last race, it did not quite end well in the plot of his play, as he got struck with a five-second time penalty for making more than one change of direction. As the race continued, McLaren continued biting their tongue, keeping hold of what the final laps could contain. The moment the checkered flag rose in front of the grandstand, Max Verstappen had taken victory under the lights, securing his 71st career victory. Oscar Piastri finished in P2 just shy of P1 in the race, and the driver, Lando Norris, finished in P3, taking all that he needed to be crowned a champion under the fireworks. 

Surrounded by his family, friends, team and fans in Abu Dhabi and throughout the world celebrated as the season closed after 24 races across five continents. The season brought nothing dull; it brought action, stress, grey hairs and lots of adrenaline, pretty sure a lot of fans’ couches’ edges were worn out. 

As we live in the Winter Break (Summer for our Southern Hemisphere residents), we say goodbye to the 2025 season, the ground effect era, the calling that DRS is now open, the lovable Yuki Tsunoda and the Renault Engine. 

Of course, to receive the drivers’ most dreamt-of trophy, the FIA awards were hosted in Uzbekistan, where the top three drivers in Formula 1 were to join all the incredible drivers from across the motorsport world to celebrate a year full of success. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were two drivers in the top three present at the awards ceremony, while Max Verstappen called in sick, but did present himself with a video message for the evening. Charles Leclerc was also present at the ceremony in support of Ferrari’s success for the year. 

McLaren’s CEO, Zac Brown and Team Principal, Andrea Stella were present at the awards receiving the Constructors trophy once again and Lando Norris was presented with the Driver’s trophy. His name printed above McLaren’s last drivers champion, Lewis Hamilton in 2015 where he won his second title with Mercedes that year. 

It has been one goal ticking journey from a 2019 rookie to the 2025 world champion. And if Lando Norris’s journey taught us anything, is to be patient, to let your time come. It was not the easiest years with McLaren at the start, but Norris believed in the people around him that together they could all reach to the top and be the best on track. It took time securing his first win, it took time to finally get their hands on the championship competing car, it took time to get their hands on the constructors and it took time to get HIS hands on the drivers trophy. As much as seven years does seems minimal, the effort put it is worth more than decades. Norris’ raw mentality of how he copes throughout a weekend is different from another driver, but the transparency made him who he is. Not everyone wins a championship like that and as was said by Carlos Sainz, he proved you can be a nice and still win a championship. 

This is a story of a lifetime, including teammates, family and friends, the first drivers for McLaren since 2008 and their driver, Lando Norris’ first championship of his career. 

Written by Shaakirah Vangeria