Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris and his McLaren team have been recognized with nominations for significant sporting honors presented by Laureus. Norris secured his place as the 35th F1 world champion in 2025 after a narrow victory over four-time titleholder Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi’s dramatic finale, edging him by just two points. His outstanding performance has earned him a nomination for the ‘World Breakthrough Star of the Year’ award.
Competitors in the Breakthrough Star Category
Lando Norris faces competition from several rising stars across various sports, including footballer Desire Doue, tennis player Joao Fonseca, Canadian basketball star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, darts champion Luke Littler, and swimmer Zidi Yu. Each contender has demonstrated remarkable progress in their respective fields throughout the year.
McLaren Contends for Team of the Year
In addition to Norris’ nomination, the McLaren team has also been shortlisted for the ‘World Team of the Year’ award after securing their second consecutive constructors’ world championship in 2025. This nomination places them alongside other elite groups such as the England Women’s football team, which triumphed in the European Championships, the European Ryder Cup team that defeated the United States at Bethpage Golf Club, the Indian Women’s World Cup-winning cricket squad, the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, and Paris Saint-Germain, who claimed their first UEFA Champions League title.
No F1 Driver in Sportsman of the Year List
While no Formula 1 drivers have been nominated for the ‘World Sportsman of the Year’ award, MotoGP champion Marc Marquez has earned a place among the candidates after overcoming injury setbacks to win his seventh premier class title in 2025. Other nominees in this top category include tennis players Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, pole vault legend Mondo Duplantis, and four-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar.
Historical Context and Upcoming Award Ceremony
Previous recipients of the Laureus ‘World Sportsman of the Year’ award from Formula 1 include Michael Schumacher, who won twice (2002 and 2004), Sebastian Vettel (2014), Lewis Hamilton (2020), and Max Verstappen (2022). The winners of this year’s Laureus awards will be revealed during the ceremony scheduled for April 20th in Madrid, marking a significant moment to celebrate outstanding athletic achievements across multiple sports.
