Lando Norris admits he proved himself wrong with his 2025 title-winning weekend in Abu Dhabi

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Lando Norris reached the pinnacle of Formula 1 in 2025 as he clinched his maiden world championship with McLaren.

The Brit came into the season as the favourite, even if he tried to underplay that. McLaren looked to have the dominant package after winning the constructors’ championship in 2024.

That proved to be the case in 2025 as the team won 14 races across the season. Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri battled hard with Max Verstappen after Red Bull’s resurgence in the second half of the year, but it was the former who came out on top.

Where does Norris rank?

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Seven moments defined Norris’ season as he beat Verstappen by just two points. It was a year of ups and downs, from his mechanical DNF in Zandvoort to his disqualification in Las Vegas, but he bounced back to win the championship.

Norris made several changes behind the scenes to beat Piastri in the intra-team battle, including his mentality and not letting anything affect him. That was on full display in Abu Dhabi, much to his surprise.

Lando Norris thought he would be ‘pretty damn nervous’ heading into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Norris led the championship by 10 points over Piastri and 12 points over Verstappen heading into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. With the title at stake, he felt that the nerves would get to him.

But as he described on his official YouTube channel, it did not play out that way at all. He said it was just like any other race and that he felt comfortable despite the circumstances.

“The week leading up to the biggest race of my life. And I didn’t know how to be. I didn’t know how to act.

What was your favourite moment from Lando Norris’ 2025 F1 title-winning season?

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“Like I didn’t know how to, how I was meant to be. I didn’t know, I didn’t know if I was like meant to be really excited or not, scared.

“I thought I’d be pretty damn nervous because I do, I mean, I get nervous every race, every qualifying, like always. Like that’s a normal thing.

“I thought it’d be a bit too chaotic for me. But in fact, getting in the car, I actually felt pretty ready. I felt very calm. Just another day in the office, I felt ready. I still knew in my head, this is it. And the time had come.”

READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration

Can Lando Norris defend his crown in 2026?

After winning his maiden title, all eyes will be on Norris as he looks to defend his championship in 2026. It will be the first time that the number one has been on a McLaren since 2009, after Lewis Hamilton won his first title in 2008.

The regulation changes are set to throw the pecking order up into disarray, but if rumours are true, Mercedes are expected to have the fastest power unit in 2026. Being their customer team, it puts McLaren in a strong position.

Fans expect Norris to be a title contender next year, alongside his teammate Piastri, George Russell and Fernando Alonso. Given his changes behind the scenes and his credentials in 2025, it is hard to look past the 25-year-old for a championship charge.

Norris has been told McLaren are a ‘step ahead’ of their rivals in 2026, which, in theory, puts him as one of the favourites for the title. The question is whether he can keep up the momentum and if McLaren have aced the regulation change.