F1 – Lando Norris laid hands on the Formula One winner’s trophy at a prize-giving gala in Tashkent as outgoing champion Max Verstappen stayed away due to illness but sent a congratulatory message to the Briton and McLaren.
Norris clinched the title in the final race in Abu Dhabi last Sunday, beating Red Bull’s Verstappen by two points in the 24-round season with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri third overall.
The 26-year-old is the 35th Formula One champion since the first in 1950 and 11th Briton to win the crown.
“Obviously this is a lot of people’s dreams, a lot of racing drivers’ dreams and I got to finally live it,” Norris told the audience in the Uzbek capital. “Live that one dream that I had when I was a little kid.”
Norris spoke alongside newly-reelected FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
“Congratulations and thank you to McLaren, the team I’ve been with for many, many years on giving both of us an incredible car that at times made our life very easy, and beautiful, and we could bring home many wins all the way to the end of the season.
“Of course, Mr Piastri, the incredible team mate that I’ve had, who has helped me improve so much over the last few seasons and made us the team that we are, allowed us to turn into the team winning two constructors’ back-to-back.
“Of course, to Max as well, for challenging us the whole way, putting us under pressure, just doing what Max always does.
Back in 2014, a young Norris was on stage at the FIA Awards to collect his trophy as karting world champion, and he also looked back on his journey through F1 from that moment 11 years ago.
He added: “It’s been amazing to grow up here alongside a lot of you guys, deliver it with McLaren and to get to race all the World Champions that I’ve been racing against – Lewis (Hamilton), Max (Verstappen), Seb (Vettel), Fernando (Alonso).
Four-times champion Verstappen was awarded the F1 Action of the Year in his absence for his overtake on Piastri in the opening lap of the Imola race.
“I’m very sorry that I couldn’t be with you tonight. The doctors have prevented me from flying,” said the Dutch driver in a recorded message.
“A big congratulations to McLaren and especially Lando. You guys had an unbelievable season, and it was really cool to be able to race against you guys until the end.”
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