Transcription
Lando Norris. Quick, just sailing on by. Determined. Norris all the way around the outside of form. Loyal and now a world champion. LANDO HAS LANDED. GOING TO THE INSIDE. Is it going TO BE ANOTHER CLASSIC MOVE? BRILLIANT MOVE FROM LANDO NORRIS. LANDO NORRIS has done it again. YEAH, BABY. AND AFTER 24 ROUNDS, LANDO NORRIS IS THE FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPION.
LANDO, how's it going for you so far this weekend? It's been good. I've had my heats. I've had a first and second, which puts me on pole for the final. My main competition is probably going to be Jamie, Caroline, and Dan Tictton. So, I reckon if we can try and beat them throughout the season, it'll be good and we can win the championship.
Norris has been building to this moment since he was 8 years old when he first started carting. He was fast from the get-go, taking pole position at his very first national race. He soon began collecting wins and titles, culminating in the CIK FIA World Championship in 2014. At just 14 years old, he was the series youngest ever winner. By then he was already racing cars too, doveetailing his carting with a season in Janetta Juniors in 2014 where he finished third in the championship after taking four wins. For 2015, he switched to MSA Formula, the series that would become known as British Formula 4 and roared to the title with eight victories. The following year, he won three championship titles in the Junior Formula, including the New Zealandbased Toyota Racing Series and Formula Renault Euro Cup, and still found time to race to four wins in the British Formula 3 Championship 2.
But even this trophy laden season was simply a prelude of 2017, the most pivotal year of his junior racing career, and one which was defined by two key developments. First, he was signed up to McLaren's young driver program, the same system that saw Lewis Hamilton work his way through the junior categories and then into F1 and all the way to the world championship title. Lewis Hamilton is the world champion. And second, he proved he had the talent to justify McLaren's faith when he won the European Formula 3 championship with nine victories and finished second in the prestigious Macau Grand Prix.
A step up to Formula 2 beckoned and once again young Lando proved he was immediately on the pace by taking pole position and victory in the very first feature race of the year in Bahrain. That would prove to be his only victory of the season, but his consistency and wheelto-wheel ability put him in the title fight alongside close friends and rivals George Russell and Alex Albon. Meanwhile, he continued his development with McLaren, who named him as their official reserve driver for the year and ran him in seven F1 practice sessions over the course of the season.
It means a lot. I think it's a good opportunity for me to develop more as a driver, especially with McLaren. I think it's definitely my favorite team to kind of join and um yeah, hopefully it will lead to to more opportunities in the future.
In the end, it was Russell who came out on top in the Formula 2 title battle. And while that might have stung a little, Norris had already secured the prize he craved most, a Formula 1 drive for the following year with McLaren, who had decided to run an allnew driver lineup for 2019. Now Norris was in the big time at just 19 years old and with one of F1's blue chip teams, even if McLaren weren't quite the force they'd been in the glory days of old. But Lando and his new teammate Carlos Science gelled immediately, forming one of the sport's most popular double acts as they worked together to get McLaren back on the right path. Carando's close bond and raw speed helped the team returned to the podium for the first time in over 5 years with science doing so with P3 at the penultimate race of 2019. But Norris's rookie season was as memorable for his ontrack performances as it was for his memeworthy moments.
I'm moving up and down, side to side, like a roller coaster. And along with fellow rookies Albon and Russell, he ushered in a new era as Formula 1 embraced a generation of drivers who weren't just quick, but who relish sharing their journey online with their fans.
Where are your 1 million Instagram fans? Lando's second season was delayed by the co pandemic, but he kept his fans entertained with plenty of online streaming and once the real racing did resume, he was immediately on the pace. He started the new season with a bang and the taste of champagne as he claimed his maiden F1 podium finish in the season opener in Austria. His P3 result was a lesson in perseverance, extreme concentration, speed, and determination as he closed down Lewis Hamilton, who had a 5-second penalty to serve with a blistering final two laps of the race.
I think that's a podium, mate. I think that's a podium. Yeah, BOY. YES. RIGHT. I don't know. I don't want to celebrate too much. And last lap, Lando was at it again the following week at the very same track. The young Brit claiming an astonishing three places in the final stages of the Styrion Grand Prix.
Lando Norris ON THE LAST LAP. HE GOT THE FASTEST LAP LAST WEEK. HE'S GOT A PLACE AHEAD OF LANCE STROLL THIS WEEK AND HE'S UP INTO sixth place. NORRIS MIGHT YET TAKE FIFTH, YOU KNOW, AS HE GOES WIDE. PARIS NORRIS IS PAST THE RACING POINT. HE'S DONE TWO IN THE SAME LAP. He wouldn't visit the podium again that season, but his pace and point scoring consistency further Burnish's reputation as one of the quickest and most capable drivers in the field and helped McLaren up to P3 in the championship, their highest finish in eight years.
Norris crosses the line to finish fifth. And on the day that they announced new investment into the team, MCLAREN HAVE BAGGED EVEN more millions by clinching that third place in the constructor's championship.
In 2021, the carando partnership came to an end with scient's move to Ferrari and Norris welcomed a new teammate, Daniel Ricardo. The Australian was vastly more experienced, but it was Norris who was quicker, scoring four podiums on his way to P6 in the championship, including third places at IMLA Monaco. And his happy hunting ground, the Red Bull Ring.
And who likes a podium here in Austria, LANDO NORRIS, STARTED ON THE FRONT ROW, PICKS UP ANOTHER PODIUM. At Monza, Ricardo bucksed the form book by taking McLaren's first win in almost a decade with Norris following him home to make it a memorable one-two.
IT'S MCLAREN AND RICARDO THAT WIN THE ITALIAN GRAND PRIX. LANDO NORRIS COMES HOME TO MAKE IT A ONE TWO. Lando Norris coming home in second for his best ever finish in Formula 1. In the next race, after securing a maiden pole, Norris had his first win in his sights before spinning out in the final laps.
AND IT'S NOW JUST 4 SECONDS BETWEEN NORRIS AND HAMILTON. AND HAMILTON TAKES THE LEAD OF THE RACE AS LANDO NORRIS SLIDES OFF THE TRACK. A heartbroken Lando eventually finished seventh.
I could have won the race and I didn't. So, um, I'm never going to be happy like this. He would not best that result for the rest of the year, but performances like the one he delivered in Sachi had marked him out as one to watch. Norris was ready to win, but McLaren, it seemed, didn't have the car to match his talent. Speculation was rife that the likes of Red Bull and Mercedes were keen to poach him away from woking. But Norris was resolute in his loyalty to the team that had given him his F1 debut and raised eyebrows in the paddock when he signed a new long-term contract just before the 2022 season began.
You know, I want to win with McLaren. I want to win a championship with McLaren. And and that's our goal. You know, it's not just mine, it's our goal. Norris admitted he'd spoken to rival teams, but ultimately decided his future was with McLaren.
But when the new season began, it looked like Lando's loyalty might have cost him the chance to realize those dreams. The 2022 season ushered in a new era in Formula 1 with all new ground effect cars, and McLaren hadn't got theirs quite right. As Red Bull emerged as the new dominant team in the sport, McLaren slipped back. winner in waiting. Lando was left to fight it out for the points in the midfield with a third place at Imila, his and McLaren's sole podium finish of the year as the Papaya team dropped a fifth in the constructors.
At the end of the year, there was a big change of foot at Woking. Team principal Andrea Sidel left for Sala with technical director James Key soon to follow as Andrea Stella stepped up to take on the team boss role. And Lando also had a new teammate with F3 and F2 champion Oscar Piestri replacing fellow Aussie Daniel Ricardo. But despite these changes on the pit wall and in the cockpit, 2023 began much as 2022 had finished.
We're in the midpack. Uh we're in a reasonable position. We're going to be racing. Um but much more detail than that I I don't know at the minute. So it doesn't matter where you necessarily start, but it's how you progress from there. New rookie teammate Pastri seemed to be right on the pace, but he and Norris began in Bahrain with a double no score before a bizarre incident in Saudi Arabia saw Pastry's broken front wing smash into Norris's.
I heard Oscar and Aon came together and all of their debris hit my car and I ruin my race. The score sheet told the story. Two rounds, zero points. Minor points finishes followed in Melbourne, Baku, and Monaco, but results on track were not encouraging. But behind the scenes, McLaren were cooking up a massive upgrade package. And when it arrived, it changed everything.
There was a taste of what was to come in Austria. The pace of the car in race trim looks way more competitive. Lando Norris coming home for his best result of the season. A great result on Sunday for Norris. Right on mate. It's time. Yes. But it was at Silverstone where McLaren's season truly took off. With the upgraded car, Norris took a first home front row start and landed A REST. WHAT A performance from McLaren. Second and third and surged past Max for Stafen to take an early lead as the crowd roared their approval.
Norris a very GOOD STARTANDO NORRIS LEADS. PASTRY is trying to take second, but Max VSTAFEN AROUND THE OUTSIDE, BUT IT IS LANDO NORRIS who leads from Max Vstafen in second place. In the end, Norris had to settle for second in the race, but he'd made his point. McLaren and Norris were here to stay. Six more podiums followed before the end of the year as Lando stretched his legs and spread his wings with McLaren's much improved MCL60. And as 2023 drew to a close, Norris had ticked off points, podiums, and pole positions. There was still no maiden win. But if McLaren could keep developing the car and build on their newfound speed, that was surely just a matter of time. And as the rumors swelled again about a switch to Red Bull or Mercedes, Norris once again showed his faith in McLaren by signing another long-term contract.
In 2024, he underlined the team's potential by bagging a third place in Melbourne. Okay, nice P3. Gaining a perhaps unwanted record in the process. With his 14th top three finish, Norris was now the driver with the most podiums without a win in F1 history. He further extended this record in China with P2. Meanwhile, Max Stafen looked to be in unstoppable form, winning four of the first five Grand Prix of the year.
Then came Miami. He qualified fifth for the Grand Prix itself and was running well until the safety car was sent out on lap 30. Lando saw his chance, pitted for new tires, and emerged in the lead. From there, he executed a perfect restart to fend off for Stappen and kept his lead all the way to the flag to seal that allimportant maiden victory. 15 times Lando Norris has stood on the podium, but never on THE TOP STEP UNTIL NOW. IT'S a landmark day for Lando. LANDO NORRIS WINS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FORMULA 1. THE BRITISH DRIVER'S dream is realized. And at the 110th attempt, he's done it. He's won it. You've done it, mate. You've done it. Oh, time. I love you all.
More polls and podiums followed as McLaren and Norris grew in confidence and speed. And after the summer break, he got win number two. If his first victory owed at least a little something to the timing of the safety car, his second was all about his own speed and skill behind the wheel. He took pole position at Zanvort ahead of a stappen. And though the Red Bull driver beat him into turn one to take the lead, Norris was not to be denied and took the place back before running away at the front to win by more than 22 seconds.
Today at the house that Max rebuilt the winner's ORANGE ONCE AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME IN FORMULA 1. LANDO NORRIS WINS. IT WAS A champions drive. Very welld deserved. It was a dominant performance from the man who was nibbling away at the stappen's championship lead and was beginning to be talked about as a title contender himself. Norris was now older, wiser, and at times absolutely ruthless. Zack Brown called it. The Lando era had begun.
Ultimately, the title proved to be a bridge too far given the early lead for Stappen had built up. But Norris still delivered two more wins, first in Singapore and then in Abu Dhabi to end the season with an unmistakable statement of intent about 2025. Norris was coming for Vstappen's crown. And he began the new season in devastating style, keeping his composure in truly treacherous conditions in Melbourne to take the win. Pole and victory at the season opener. His title bid had begun in the best possible way.
Lando Norris wins the Australian Grand Prix. His teammate Pastri then made the running with four victories in the next five rounds to claim the championship lead. But Norris would hit back at Formula 1's most prestigious event.
Welcome to a venue all in motorsport aspire to reach. Another poll gave him the best seat in the house at Monaco, but he still had to work hard to keep Charlotte at bay behind him as the Monagas carried and hustled and tried to add another home win to his own CV. But Norris didn't buckle under the pressure and went on to join the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Senna as McLaren Monaco winners in Austria. He had to bring all his determination, speed, and wheelto-wheel skill to fend off a challenge from Pastri.
THE TWO MCLARENS ARE SIDE BY SIDE AGAIN. PASTRI started in third takes the lead on lap 11 AND THEY WERE MILLIMETERS AWAY FROM CONTACT. THEY'RE STILL SIDE BY SIDE. IT'S FOR THE LEAD AT THE GRAND PRIX AND THEY STILL CAN'T RESOLVE IT. LANDO HANGS ON. LANDO NORRIS wins the Austrian Grand Prix in a massive result for the World Championship. He kept his teammates at bay. This was the title battle distilled into a single race and Norris would not be denied. And he followed that up with an emotional home win at the British Grand Prix on a wet and wild day at Silverstone.
In 2025, it's Norris's NAME ON THE TROPHY. LANDO Norris wins THE BRITISH GRAND PRIX. After taking pole at Spa, he was beaten to the win by Pastri, but hit back again in Hungary to claim his fifth Grand Prix victory of the season and closed the gap to his teammate to just nine points. From there, he continued to chip away at the deficit, gaining and gaining until he grabbed the championship lead and never let it go.
WHAT A WEEKEND THIS HAS BEEN FOR LANDO NORRIS, WHO COMES ACROSS THE LINE AND WINS THE MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX. LANDO NORRIS IN POSITION TO RETAKE THE CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD. Of course, it hadn't all been perfect and the battle with Pastri has had its flash points.
NO, HE'S RIPPED OFF THE FRONT WING. THE MCLAREN COLLIDE. PAST IS GOING TO BE HIT BY HULKBUCK AND THE MCLAREN MAKE CONTACT AS WELL. I wasn't very teamlike, but I'm sure. And enter Max Fappen. A resurgent second half of the season saw the four-time world champion win in Monza, Baku, Austin, Las Vegas, and Qatar completely shaking up the points. But despite a charge from the defending champion and weathering a disqualification in Las Vegas, Lando's laser sharp focus for the title never faltered. Every lap carved with intent, every moment a testament to his transformation. After 24 frantic Grand Prix weekends, a host of intense battles on track, wins and losses, triumphs and disasters, pit stops and podiums, Lando Norris is the last man standing. Our champion of the world in 2025.