Eleven years after stepping onto the FIA Awards stage as a karting world champion, Norris collected the Formula 1 trophy that sealed his childhood dream after an unforgettable 2025 season.

Lando Norris completed the most meaningful full circle of his career in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The McLaren driver officially received the 2025 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship trophy at the FIA Awards, in a night filled with symbolism, emotion, and reflection. Eleven years ago, the same stage welcomed him as a karting world champion; now, it crowned him as one of Formula 1’s defining figures.

The 2025 season went down to the wire. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix delivered a dramatic finale with Norris, team mate Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen all still in title contention. While Verstappen won the race, Norris’ third-place finish was enough to secure the championship by just two points, triggering emotional scenes at Yas Marina as he realized his lifelong dream.

On stage in Tashkent, trophy in hand, Norris reflected on a season defined by pressure and excellence. “Where do I start? Congratulations and thank you to McLaren, the team I’ve been with for many, many years, for giving us an incredible car that at times made our lives very easy and allowed us to bring home many wins all the way to the end of the season”, he said.

The new world champion made sure to highlight the people around him. “Of course, Oscar Piastri, the incredible team mate I’ve had, who has helped me improve so much and allowed us to become the team we are today, winning two constructors’ championships back-to-back.” He also paid tribute to his fiercest rival: “And to Max as well, for challenging us all year and putting us under pressure, just doing what Max always does.”

Beyond statistics, Norris spoke from the heart. “It was incredible. This is a lot of people’s dreams, a lot of racing drivers’ dreams, and I finally got to live it – the dream I had when I was a little kid.” The reference carried weight: in 2014, a young Norris stood on the same stage as a karting world champion. Eleven years later, the story came full circle.

“It’s been amazing to grow up here alongside so many of you, to do this with McLaren, and to race against world champions like Lewis (Hamilton), Max (Verstappen), Seb (Vettel), and Fernando (Alonso)”, he reflected. “Drivers I looked up to as a kid, that I now had the chance to race against, compete with, and prove what I could do. And we managed to do that this year.”

There was also room for humor. Norris joked about the mistakes along the way, dropped a swear word on stage, and laughed it off: “Sorry, I got fined! But now I can pay it!” A line that perfectly captured the joy and relief of a champion who had finally reached the summit.

The night was complete for McLaren. CEO Zak Brown and Team Principal Andrea Stella lifted the Constructors’ Championship trophy, confirming the Woking squad’s full return to the top. “Fantastic season,” Brown said. “To go into the final race with two drivers fighting for the World Championship when everyone said it couldn’t be done makes me incredibly proud. That’s exactly how we plan to go racing next year.”

For Norris, Tashkent was more than a ceremony. It was proof that the kid who dreamed of Formula 1 had arrived exactly where he always believed he would.

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