Lando Norris has etched his name into Formula 1 history, clinching his maiden World Drivers' Championship title on December 7, 2025, at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Yet, in a twist that left fans and even Norris himself somewhat bemused, the McLaren driver did not hoist the coveted championship trophy on race day. Instead, the sport’s most prestigious prize will be handed over at a formal gala in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, nearly a week later, on December 12. For a sport that thrives on spectacle, the absence of the trophy in Norris’s moment of triumph remains a head-scratcher.
It was a dramatic end to the 2025 season, the 75th in Formula 1’s storied history. Norris, needing only a solid finish to secure the championship, crossed the line in third at Yas Marina Circuit. Max Verstappen, his closest rival, took the race victory, with Oscar Piastri finishing second. But it was Norris who emerged on top in the final standings, edging Verstappen by just two points, while Piastri settled for third in the championship.
As the checkered flag waved and Norris stepped from his car, the emotion was clear. "I've not cried in a while. I didn't think I'd cry but I did," Norris admitted in a tearful post-race interview. He was quick to pay tribute to those who stood by him through thick and thin. "First of all I want to say a big thanks to my guys, everyone at McLaren. My parents... I'm not crying. My mum, my dad, they were the ones who supported me since the beginning."
The 26-year-old Briton, who joined McLaren’s Driver Development Programme in 2017 and made his Formula 1 debut with the team in 2019, finally realized a dream he had chased for nearly two decades. "It's incredible. Pretty surreal. I've dreamed of this for a long time, everyone does. A lot goes into a season like this, lot of ups, lot of downs, but none of that matters as long as you try and come out on top, and that's what we managed to do with an incredible team," Norris reflected. "All the boys and girls that I've enjoyed so many moments with. It's not just this year, it's been over the last seven, eight years I've been with McLaren. The last 16, 17 years of my life I've been trying to chase this dream and today we all did it, so I'm pretty happy."
The race itself was far from a parade for Norris. Overtaken by Piastri on the opening lap, he faced intense pressure from both Piastri and Verstappen throughout the race. At one point, he had to battle past Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda, and there was even a brief investigation into his move on Tsunoda. Norris, however, was unfazed. "I had no idea I was under investigation for my move on Tsunoda. I didn't care, I knew what I did was fine so I had nothing to worry about. I was just trying to enjoy the moment. Not many people in the world, in F1, get to experience what I've experienced this season and this year. I'm happy for everyone more than me. I'm just crazy happy."
It’s been a long road for Norris and McLaren. The team, once the dominant force in Formula 1, has endured years of rebuilding. For Norris, this title is as much about giving back to the team as it is about personal glory. "It's been a long journey with McLaren. I've been with them for like nine years, we've been through plenty of crazy difficult times and plenty of good times. For me to feel like I could bring something back to them, it's their first Drivers' [title] in many, many years, I feel like I did my part for the team this year and I'm very proud of myself for that, but I'm even more proud for everyone that I've hugged and made cry."
Yet, for all the emotion and jubilation, the championship celebration was missing the iconic image of Norris lifting the World Drivers' Championship trophy. The reason? In a tradition that harks back to a bygone era, the FIA—the sport’s governing body—does not present the trophy at the season’s final race. Instead, the real trophy, designed by Richard Fox in 1995 from sterling silver, 24 ct gold, and enamel, measuring 525mm tall and weighing 4.7kg, remained in London. The FIA insists it must be engraved with the winner’s name before presentation and will only be awarded at their annual prizegiving gala.
This curious tradition stands in stark contrast to other sports, where the trophy takes center stage in the victory celebration. Think of the FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl, or the Stanley Cup—each instantly identifiable and synonymous with the moment of triumph. Formula 1’s championship trophy, by comparison, is almost an afterthought, briefly glimpsed before the race and then whisked away until the gala. Even Norris, Verstappen, and Piastri only saw a replica during the pre-race press conference.
Why the delay? The FIA cites two main reasons. First, the prizegiving gala is meant to be the centerpiece of the governing body’s annual celebration, attended by champions from all FIA-affiliated series. The presence of the trophy at the gala, rather than at the circuit, is intended to preserve the event’s gravitas. Second, the FIA’s sporting code allows teams to protest or appeal the championship outcome up to four days before the gala. Only after this window closes is the trophy handed over, ensuring there’s no awkward reversal should the title change hands post-race.
Liberty Media, Formula 1’s commercial rights holder, has pushed for a more immediate and public presentation, but the FIA retains control over the process. This has led to an odd disconnect: while race winners receive their trophies on the podium, the sport’s ultimate prize remains hidden until days later. The result is a championship celebration that feels, to many, just a bit incomplete.
For Norris, the wait for the trophy is unlikely to diminish the significance of his achievement. His emotional post-race words, his gratitude toward his team and family, and his pride in overcoming fierce competition from Verstappen and Piastri have already cemented his place among Formula 1’s elite. As the 35th World Champion in the sport’s history, Norris’s name will soon be engraved on the trophy—joining legends of the past, even if the moment comes in a tuxedo rather than race overalls.
As Formula 1 continues to evolve and attract new fans, perhaps it’s time for the sport to reconsider how it honors its champions. For now, though, Norris and McLaren will savor a hard-fought, emotional triumph—trophy or no trophy on the night.
