Lando Norris arrived in Abu Dhabi facing the defining moment of his Formula 1 career. After seven seasons of close calls, heartbreaks, near-wins and public scrutiny over whether he possessed the decisive edge of a world champion, the McLaren driver finally secured the 2025 Formula One World Championship.

He clinched the title with a composed drive to third place under the Yas Marina floodlights, sealing a triumph shaped as much by consistency as by outright victories, but even some disobedience when it comes to team orders it seems.

Join the discussion below

 

 

 

 

Norris honest reflections

The celebrations began immediately. Cameras swarmed, microphones followed him through Parc Ferme, and fans chanted his name from the grandstands as he stood on the podium that confirmed his long-awaited ascent. But once the emotion settled and the interviews began, Norris did something rare in moments of sporting glory: he reflected openly, critically, and honestly, about what he had achieved, and what he wished he had done differently.

“I won the title in my own way,” Norris said, reiterating a point that he returned to several times.

He spoke with visible pride about staying true to himself throughout the season, maintaining the temperament, transparency, and analytical approach that have long defined him, even when critics argued it made him too self-critical, too expressive, too vulnerable, too nice to be a champion.

“I didn’t have to be someone I’m not,” he emphasised. “I didn’t have to try to be as aggressive as Max, or as tough as other champions. Staying true to myself is what makes this mean even more.”

Verstappen SLAMS FIA ground effect regulation era

 

Facing the Critics — and Owning His Words

Despite the triumph, Norris did not shy away from acknowledging his own missteps. Over the months leading to his title, he had occasionally spoken bluntly about rivals and situations in the heat of the moment. These comments, particularly about Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton, sometimes sparked headlines and social media debates that lingered longer than he liked.

“Sometimes, I say stupid things,” Norris admitted, shaking his head at himself.

“I regret some of those statements, and I wish I could take them back.”

He was careful to clarify that competitiveness never diminished his respect for those he raced against.

“I think I show more respect than any other driver,” he said. “I’ve always respected Oscar, I’ve respected Max, and I try to show Lewis as much respect as possible. He’s a seven-time world champion. Compared to him and Michael Schumacher, I’m not even close.”

‘Norris to hand over his title’

 

Norris:  “People will always say nonsense…”

Norris described how some remarks escaped him in moments of adrenaline. The cooldown room, in particular, has been the birthplace of several unfiltered thoughts he later wished he had reconsidered.

“I’d say something and immediately think, ‘Why the hell did I say that?’” Even so, he stressed that honesty, even imperfect honesty, was central to who he is. He explained that he has no interest in playing mind games or manufacturing narratives.

“If I think a win is possible, I’ll say it. If I think Red Bull is fast, I’ll say that, too. There’s nothing for me to gain from being false.”

More than anything, Norris said, he has learned not to let external noise dictate how he feels about himself. Criticism, he acknowledged, is unavoidable in Formula 1, but it no longer unsettles him the way it once did.

“People will always say nonsense. I’ve learned to live with it. What matters is the truth — the truth that the people in my inner circle know, and the truth I know, about how I perform. As long as I know I’ve done a good job, that’s enough.”

The title confirmed his belief: he didn’t need to adopt anyone else’s personality or style. Norris became world champion while being unmistakably, consistently himself.

Hamilton & Ferrari’s tobacco money: Controversial return to advertising on F1 cars

 

Team orders ignored

When the chequered flag fell, however, Norris’s emotional release nearly created a moment of conflict with the McLaren pit wall. Driving down the main straight, the newly crowned champion swung the rear of his MCL39 around in celebratory doughnuts, a time-honoured ritual of Formula 1 champions, despite being told not to.

Race engineer Will Joseph, who had guided Norris through the tense final laps, had given a firm instruction just minutes earlier: “No doughnuts!” Not as a suggestion, but as a clear order.

McLaren had their reasons. Although doughnuts are not strictly banned, they carry risks. Excessive tyre wear or damage to the floor could compromise the post-race FIA inspection, and, after the team’s painful disqualification in Las Vegas earlier in the season due to underfloor wear, McLaren were especially cautious.

Norris heard the instruction. He understood it. And he ignored it.

“I thought, ‘Am I allowed to, or not? I have to. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.’” He laughed as he recalled the moment, though he admitted it came with a pang of guilt.

“I felt pretty bad. I don’t often ignore Will. When I did it, I thought, ‘Damn, I shouldn’t have done that.’”

The doughnuts themselves were modest, brief, and controlled, the celebration of a driver who had finally reached the peak. To the relief of everyone at McLaren, post-race scrutineering posed no issues, and the car passed inspection with no concerns.

GP & Marko Red Bull Exit: Repercussions for Verstappen

 

A Celebration Years in the Making

Even in victory, Norris was reflective about the responsibility the title brings. He acknowledged that moments of frustration or casual comments can overshadow performances in a sport where public perception can shift in an instant. His commitment going forward is to remain honest, but also more thoughtful.

“I’ve tried to be a good person. A good teammate. That’s what I’m proud of,” he said. “People can say what they want, I know what I’ve achieved.”

In Abu Dhabi, Lando Norris became world champion, not by imitating those who came before him, but by embracing exactly who he is, and accepting where he still wants to be better.

For the first time in his career, Norris is not chasing belief from others. He has earned it. And, most importantly, he has earned it from himself.

Confirmed Reports: Marko Leaves Red Bull

 

 

 

 

NEXT ARTICLE – Hamilton says he will ‘disappear’ after Abu Dhabi

Lewis Hamilton’s starting position for the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi was 16th on the grid after another Q1 elimination. The Ferrari superstar, who competed in his first season in Maranello red this year, was undeterred by this, on the contrary, he staged a strong comeback that was rewarded with eighth place and four championship points.

This saw the seven-time world champion finish the championship in sixth place overall, failing to secure a top-three finish for the first time in his Formula 1 career. Only six points separate him from his rookie successor, Kimi Antonelli, who collected 150 championship points in his Mercedes.

His teammate Charles Leclerc finished fifth, just ahead of Hamilton, but with 242 championship points and seven podium finishes, the Monegasque was significantly more successful.

Join the discussion below

 

A season that tested Hamilton’s resolve

Lewis Hamilton’s final weekend of the 2025 season at Yas Marina was emblematic of a year defined by frustration, flashes of brilliance, and a struggle to find consistency with his new Ferrari team. Beginning the decider from 16th on the grid would once have been unthinkable for a driver long accustomed to dominating Saturdays, let alone Sundays.

Yet the seven-time world champion delivered a gritty and disciplined comeback, picking off rivals with the kind of measured racecraft that has always formed the backbone of his success.

That drive to eighth place did little to soften the reality of the season, however. Hamilton’s…READ MORE ON THIS STORY