In a dramatic and emotional climax to the 2025 Formula One season, Britain's Lando Norris was crowned World Champion on Sunday. The 26-year-old McLaren driver secured the title with a third-place finish at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, dethroning the reigning champion Max Verstappen and ending his four-year dominance of the sport.
An Emotional Triumph for Norris and McLaren
Despite finishing the final race in third position, Norris's consistent performance throughout the year earned him a total of 423 championship points, just two points ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen who finished with 421. This victory makes Norris the 11th British driver to win the Formula One World Championship. Overcome with emotion, a tearful Norris shared his feelings in a post-race interview.
"I've not cried in a while. I didn't think I would cry but I did," Norris confessed to the media. "It feels amazing. I now know what Max feels like a little bit." He went on to praise his rivals, saying, "I want to congratulate Max and Oscar, my two biggest competitors the whole season. It's been a pleasure to race against both of them. It's been an honour, I've learned a lot from both."
The victory was doubly sweet for the McLaren team. Alongside his teammate Oscar Piastri, Norris helped McLaren secure the constructors' championship as well. This marks the first time since the legendary 1998 season that McLaren has won both the drivers' and constructors' titles.
The Journey to the Top: From Debut to Champion
Lando Norris's path to the championship was one of steady growth and determination. A member of the McLaren Young Driver Programme since 2017, he made his F1 debut with the team in 2019 alongside Carlos Sainz Jr. His first race was the Australian Grand Prix, where he finished 8th.
His first podium came in the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix, where he finished third. While he achieved his maiden pole position at the 2021 Russian Grand Prix and secured several podiums, the consistency of a champion eluded him until recently. The 2023 season was a turning point with seven podium finishes, though a race win remained just out of reach.
The breakthrough finally came in 2024 at the Miami Grand Prix, where Norris claimed his first-ever F1 victory. He added three more wins that season, finishing as runner-up to Verstappen. In 2025, he left no room for doubt, securing seven race victories throughout the campaign, which ultimately propelled him to the world championship after a nail-biting finale in Abu Dhabi.
Life Off the Track: Net Worth and Personal Life
Norris's success is reflected in his stature within the sport. As of 2024, he was among F1's top three earners, behind only Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. According to Forbes, his estimated net worth was around $35 million. This comprises a $12 million salary from McLaren, with the remainder coming from bonuses and lucrative sponsorship deals.
After keeping his personal life private for years, Norris confirmed his relationship with Portuguese model and actress Margarida 'Magui' Corceiro in 2024. The 23-year-old has been a supportive presence in the paddock and was there to share a celebratory kiss with Norris after his historic title win in Abu Dhabi, a moment captured and widely shared on social media.
Lando Norris's 2025 championship win is a story of perseverance, marking the arrival of a new champion and a triumphant return to the summit for the iconic McLaren team.
