Lando Norris says ‘just give me a punch’ if he ever makes one change after winning the 2025 F1 title

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McLaren star Lando Norris achieved his “life goal” of becoming a Formula 1 champion in 2025, as he dethroned Red Bull ace Max Verstappen to win his maiden drivers’ title.

Norris beat Verstappen by just two points after 24 Grands Prix and six F1 Sprints to claim the F1 drivers’ championship for the first time. Verstappen had won the title in each of the prior four years and could have joined Michael Schumacher as the only driver to win five in a row.

Verstappen had even led the drivers’ standings for 1,029 days consecutively until Norris won the 2025 season opener in Australia. Norris led the standings for a total of 77 out of the 266 days from the first to the final race during 2025, with Oscar Piastri leading for the other 189.

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Lando Norris says ‘give me a punch’ if he’s ever not smiling after winning the 2025 F1 title

Martin Brundle believes Norris now seems “more confident” after winning the 2025 F1 title, after holding on as Verstappen threatened a historic comeback. Verstappen ended the year just two points shy despite trailing Piastri by 104 points and Norris by 70 after 15/24 rounds.

READ MORE: Lando Norris’ first F1 drivers’ title in 2025 was defined by seven key moments

Norris hopes he can one day add to his 2025 F1 drivers’ title, but the 26-year-old would still be “happy” if he never wins another after realising his “life goal” last term. The Briton even says “just give me a punch” if he is ever not smiling, as not everyone achieves their dreams.

Norris said, via RACER: “I still have many more years in Formula 1, and I will still try and get as many more championships as possible. If I never do, I’m still happy. I still achieved one.

“It has been 20 years from starting karting to last year, trying to achieve what I achieved, and what we all achieved as a team, and my group and my family. So, it’s a lot of time and effort and singular focus, and then it’s done.

“I guess not many people maybe in life get to achieve that end goal, or their life goal, but that was it. So, if you ever see me not smiling or something, just give me a punch or something. Remind me, because I achieved my goal in life and I’m very happy and proud.”

Lando Norris’ bid for back-to-back F1 titles relies on McLaren’s reading of the 2026 rules

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Norris became the 35th different driver to win the F1 championship in 2025, along with him becoming the 11th Briton to win the title to date. He will now strive to go on and join the 17 existing multiple-time champions, instead of the 17 other drivers who only won one F1 title.

But the Bristol-born racer’s bid to win his first two titles back-to-back will also hinge heavily on how McLaren have adapted to the 2026 F1 regulations. F1 has overhauled the rulebook this year, with new engine, chassis, tyre and aero regulations all coming into force at once.

McLaren have the benefit that Mercedes’ 2026 F1 rules engine is widely expected to be the best power unit. But the expectations after the first shakedown test in Barcelona last week placed McLaren in a likely fight with Ferrari and Red Bull for second-best behind Mercedes.

The Barcelona shakedown revealed McLaren’s interesting turning vanes under the nose of their 2026 F1 car, but Mercedes enjoyed a smoother outing with their new package. Norris and Piastri will hope McLaren have smoother tests in Bahrain on February 11-13 and 18-20.