Lando Norris has become Britain’s first Formula 1 world champion since Lewis Hamilton last secured the title in 2020, and Hamilton says he’s “really proud” to see his fellow Brit follow in his footsteps.
Norris sealed his first Drivers’ Championship by finishing third in Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, holding off challenges from Max Verstappen and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, who also entered the final race with a mathematical chance.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Hamilton said he was “really, really happy” for Norris. He explained that winning a first championship is “incredibly special” and praised the UK’s continued production of top-tier drivers. Hamilton acknowledged the nerves that come with entering a title-deciding race and said he was proud of how Norris handled the pressure.
Although Hamilton had initially said he had no preference about who would win the championship and wasn’t offering advice, he later revealed that he spoke to Norris before the weekend. His message was simple: keep doing what’s been working. “I told him what he’s doing is working, so don’t change anything,” Hamilton said. “And that’s what he did.”
After the race, Norris reflected on his journey and also addressed a comment he made toward Hamilton in the cooldown room at the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix. At the time, Norris reacted negatively to Hamilton’s remark about McLaren’s speed, replying that Hamilton had also benefited from a fast car years earlier.
Now, Norris says he regrets moments like that. He admitted that sometimes he says things in the heat of the moment that he wishes he could take back. He emphasized his respect for Hamilton calling him a seven-time champion and one of the greatest drivers ever and said he tries to show respect to all his competitors, including Max Verstappen and teammate Oscar Piastri.
Norris added that achieving even one championship feels like a dream and that he knows he may never reach the heights of drivers like Hamilton or Michael Schumacher. Still, he wants to remain genuine and honest, even if he sometimes speaks too quickly.
The 2026 Formula 1 season begins with the Australian Grand Prix from March 6–8, live on Sky Sports, with streaming available on NOW.
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