Lando Norris, the newly crowned Formula 1 world champion, has released his first vlog after securing the 2025 drivers’ title, sharing with fans his reflections on the pivotal moments during the season’s final race in Abu Dhabi. Focusing on winning the championship with his McLaren team, Norris described the intensity and anticipation he experienced leading up to the season finale at Yas Marina.
In his video, Norris opens up about the days before the title-deciding race, calling it
the biggest race of my life,
—Lando Norris, F1 World Champion. He recalled the uncertainty he felt as he prepared for a third-place finish, a result that would be enough to beat his Red Bull rival Max Verstappen and McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri for the championship. Ahead of the FIA prize-giving ceremony in Uzbekistan, Norris reflected,
It’s pretty much every boy’s dream to win something, and when you’re so young, you always hope or dream like you want to win it one day, but you never actually think you can. We did it,
—Lando Norris, F1 World Champion.
Building Up to the Decisive Moment
The vlog details the mental struggle Norris faced in the days before his historic win, admitting,
“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. I didn’t know how I was meant to be.”
He discusses his usual pre-race nerves and the added pressure of contending for the driver’s championship, admitting,
“I thought I’d be pretty damn nervous ’cause I do, I mean I get nervous every race, every qualifying, like always. That’s a normal thing. I thought it’d be a bit too chaotic for me.”
Surprisingly, Norris found unexpected calm while preparing for the competition, stating,
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.’
—Lando Norris, F1 World Champion. The Briton went on to clinch his first Formula 1 title at Yas Marina, earning enough points by finishing behind Verstappen and Piastri after a tense head-to-head with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. His decisive drive across the finish line secured the championship by a narrow two-point margin.
Moments of Reflection During the Race
Norris describes the final laps as an intense period of both focus and nostalgia.
“Felt like a normal race, genuinely felt like a normal race. But two laps to go, and then time starts to slow down a little bit. You start thinking of every little screw, every bolt, every wire. I’m imagining inside my car what everything is doing.”
He admits his thoughts drifted to his roots in racing, sharing,
You’re in that moment of, ‘damn what could go wrong ’cause everything’s going right’. Your mind starts thinking of these little things. I just started thinking of my first day in a go-kart. I was on a kind of mini tennis court and we put some slicks on the go-kart and I was just doing some donuts and having some fun.
—Lando Norris, F1 World Champion.
In a deeply emotional segment of the vlog, Norris explains the significance of seeing his parents, especially his mother Cisca Wauman, in the McLaren garage. The gravity of his achievement set in as he recalled,
All of a sudden, I pictured my mom in the garage. That was the first time, the first moment the whole year I just about started to realise what was happening – what was about to happen. And all I did was picture the garage, picture my parents there, my brother, my sisters, all in the garage for the final four corners.
—Lando Norris, F1 World Champion.
A New Champion Joins Legends
Calling the moment “unforgettable,” Norris now joins an elite group of world champions, including Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda, and Lewis Hamilton. With his family present to witness the milestone, Norris became an inspiration for drivers and fans alike with his perseverance and humility on the global stage.
Norris Delivers Sincere Thanks to Supporters
As he closed out the vlog, Norris addressed everyone who supported him throughout the season. He expressed his appreciation to fans worldwide, stating,
It’s been a pleasure to represent you, to do my best for you every single weekend. Thanks for being there for me. And I’ll go lift the trophy while I’m thinking of everyone that’s been part of this journey together.
—Lando Norris, F1 World Champion.
The Lando Norris F1 championship vlog has resonated intensely with the motorsport community, offering heartfelt insight into the pressures and emotions behind a successful championship pursuit. As he celebrated in Uzbekistan at the FIA ceremony and looks ahead to future challenges, Norris’s story marks a new era not only for himself and McLaren but also for Formula 1, as fans, drivers, and organizations reflect on the significance of his journey to the top.
