Lando Norris, the 2025 Formula 1 World Champion, recently gathered in London with McLaren CEO Zak Brown to celebrate his championship season ahead of the 2026 campaign. When asked to name his GOAT (Greatest of All Time) in Formula 1, Norris notably excluded Michael Schumacher and Max Verstappen, instead selecting Lewis Hamilton as his all-time favorite.
Born in 1999, Norris grew up during Michael Schumacher’s dominant era but did not witness Schumacher’s prime years live. His own karting career began at age eight, around the time Lewis Hamilton entered F1, challenging Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen and ultimately securing his first world title in 2008.
By the time Norris shifted to professional single-seaters, Hamilton was in the midst of Mercedes’ turbo-hybrid dominance, having already won six championships. When Norris debuted in 2019, Hamilton was firmly the outstanding force in the sport.
Despite fiercely competing with Max Verstappen for the 2024 and 2025 championships and recognizing the Dutch driver’s extraordinary talent, Norris made it clear who holds the top spot in his mind. Reflecting on his racing heroes, he stated,
“It’s gonna have to be Lewis. I didn’t watch Senna, Schumacher [growing up] I didn’t manage to watch these amazing people. The people I did watch is Lewis. So yes, Lewis!”
Hope for Hamilton’s Return to the Front After Struggles with Ferrari
After switching to Ferrari in 2026, Lewis Hamilton struggled through a difficult season. He failed to reach the podium, while teammate Charles Leclerc secured six top-three finishes. Hamilton’s qualifying performances deteriorated sharply as well, marking three consecutive Q1 eliminations—an unprecedented low for a Ferrari driver.
At the London event, Norris expressed optimism about Hamilton’s comeback potential and praised his GOAT’s resilience, saying,
“I think it’s just a cool thing to see Lewis (Hamilton) Back at the top and fighting, which I’m sure you’ll see more of this year.”
Expanding on their on-track battles and what the future might hold, Norris added,
“We’ve had a good amount of battles already. I would love to race a bit more with Lewis. Obviously, Ferrari struggled a lot more this year than I think everyone was expecting. Lewis has proved himself to be probably the best of all time. Everyone knows if anyone can bounce back from difficult years, it’s Mr Hamilton, and I would love to race against him more.”
Influence of Recent Changes in F1 Car Dynamics
Hamilton also commented positively on the 2026 season’s cars, highlighting that the latest designs felt more agile and playful compared to the previous era characterized by stiff ground effect regulations. This shift in vehicle handling could offer drivers new challenges and opportunities on the track.
The ongoing rivalry between Norris, Verstappen, and Hamilton remains a focal point as the sport heads deeper into the turbo-hybrid era’s evolution with teams like McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari adjusting to new performance dynamics.
What This Means for Formula 1’s Future
By naming Hamilton as the GOAT, Norris emphasizes the British driver’s impact on his own career and the sport’s landscape. Hamilton’s ability to rebound from a challenging Ferrari season will be key to seeing if he can add to his legacy and contend for more titles. Meanwhile, Norris’s championship status sets him up as a leading figure in the sport’s new generation.
The intense competition among current top drivers, including Norris and Max Verstappen, promises exciting seasons ahead. Fans and teams alike will watch closely whether Hamilton can return to the top, maintaining his position as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
