Lando Norris said that he had realised a childhood dream after becoming the Formula One world champion for the first time at Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Norris knew a podium finish would see him become the 11th British driver to win the title, and he did just that by crossing the line in third place at Yas Marina Circuit. 

Max Verstappen registered a dominant victory, his eighth of the season, while Norris' McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, who was also in contention, came home in second. 

Indeed, Norris is the 35th driver in the history of the competition to be crowned world champion, while he also followed in the footsteps of some of the great McLaren drivers. 

The Briton is the eighth McLaren driver to become world champion, following Emerson Fitipaldi (1974), James Hunt (1976), Niki Lauda (1984), Alain Prost (1985, 1986, 1989), Ayrton Senna (1988, 1990, 1991), Mika Hakkinen (1998, 1999) and Lewis Hamilton (2008).

"It's incredible. It is pretty surreal, you know? I've dreamed of this for a long, long time. Everyone does. A lot goes into a season like this, a lot of ups, a lot of downs," Norris said.

"But, none of that matters as long as you try and come out on top. That's what we have managed to do.

"I did it with an incredible team, Will J, Jarvis, all the boys and girls that I have enjoyed so many moments with.

"It's not just this year, it has been over the last seven or eight years being with McLaren, with the last 16, 17 years of my life, trying to chase this dream."

THIS MEANS EVERYTHING TO LANDO #McLaren | #ThisTeam pic.twitter.com/zlj6vbgYmN

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) December 7, 2025

Norris finished the 2025 campaign two points clear of Verstappen, while Piastri took third in the Drivers' Championship, 13 points adrift of his team-mate. 

The title had appeared to be Piastri's following the Dutch Grand Prix in August, a race the Australian won and Norris retired from due to an oil leak when running in second. 

Following that race, Piastri led the way by 34 points, but he was unable to convert his advantage, finishing on the podium just three times in the final nine Grands Prix. 

Norris, however, was quick to laud his team-mate for his displays this season, suggesting that it is only a matter of time before Piastri will follow in his footsteps. 

"The first season was very tough. I'm lucky the team have given me an incredible car. Oscar has done an incredible job, and I'm glad I've had him the last three years," he added.

"I've learnt a lot from him, and my other team-mates, Carlos and Daniel, but he made me dig deeper than I have ever had to before.

"More than anything, I want to enjoy the moment but give thanks to Oscar and Max.

"But to Oscar, no one knows how hard it can be to have team-mates fighting for the championship.

"It is tougher than one car; we take points off each other, strategy is more difficult. I have to give congrats to Oscar. He's driven incredibly.

"At some point, he will get the better of me, as he is an incredible driver. I've got a lot more seasons with him."