CHAMPION: LANDO NORRIS PROVES TALENT TRUMPS MONEY FOR F1 CROWN
Norris ends McLaren's 17-year title drought, joining Hamilton and Button as the only British champions since 1996. He defeated Verstappen and Piastri with skill and focus.
It was clear early on that Lando Norris was going to be a big deal in racing. One thing he had going for him was financial support, which many talented young racers lack.
His dad, Adam Norris, who made his money in pensions and was worth around £200 million in 2022, paid for his racing career. So, Lando always had the best equipment and plenty of time on the track to hone his skills.
His path to the top of racing was made a bit easier because of his family's money. But money alone can't buy what Norris has achieved. His talent is what made him Britain's latest Formula 1 champion.
Over the years, some drivers who came from wealthy families have gotten into F1 but didn't show the skill to back it up. Long before winning his F1 title, Norris had already proved he was more than just a pay driver.
After winning the F3 title as a rookie and almost winning in F2 against George Russell, McLaren was confident enough to bring him up to F1. Norris started his F1 career shortly after turning 19 and made an immediate impression, finishing sixth in only his second race, even though McLaren wasn't as good as it is today.
He was behind his teammate Carlos Sainz that year, but Sainz had been in F1 for a while. Norris improved significantly in their second season together. Then, in 2021, he became the clear team leader when Sainz left for Ferrari, and Daniel Ricciardo replaced him.
He almost won his first F1 race twice in 2021. First, Ricciardo led a one-two finish at Monza. Then, in Russia, victory was snatched away from him. Norris led for most of the race, but a sudden rainstorm caused him to slide off the track because he stayed on slick tyres.
He had to wait almost three more years before finally winning in Miami last May. "I've finally done it for them," he said after the race, referring to the team that had believed in him.
Now, at 26, he has won McLaren's first driver's title since Lewis Hamilton 17 years ago. He faced tough competition from Max Verstappen and his teammate Oscar Piastri.
Even though he received some for being open about his past mental health struggles, Norris stayed focused. He joins the small group of British World Champions since Damon Hill almost 30 years ago, along with Hamilton and Jenson Button.
SERGIO PEREZ BREAKS SILENCE ON CADILLAC’S FIRST FOUR RACES OF 2026 F1 SEASON
Discover why Sergio Perez is confident in Cadillac’s 2026 path despite urgent needs for better pace and reliability fixes.
Sergio Perez didn’t waste time sharing his thoughts on Cadillac after the first four races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Cadillac shows up in 2026 as F1’s newest team, but honestly, not a lot of people expected fireworks right away. With veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Perez behind the wheel, the team’s start has been a mix, some moments full of promise, others derailed by reliability issues.
Still, Cadillac isn’t just stuck at the back. Lately, they’ve been right there fighting with Aston Martin and even managed to split them in Miami, which turned a few heads.
Perez knows the team is at risk of falling behind in this crazy-fast development race, though. “We still have work to do, but I’m confident we’re on the right path,” he told reporters, including Motorsport Week.
He added, “Sometimes, once tyre degradation sets in, we can hang with the midfield, but they always seem to find another gear. There’s a long way to go this season, but we’re in a rush to find more pace. We know Aston will get stronger, and we don’t want to be left behind.”
Racing Aston Martin has actually brought Perez some enjoyment. He especially likes battling Fernando Alonso, calling those fights fair and satisfying. Still, he pointed out a weak spot: “We’re having fun with them. Racing Fernando is always great because he’s so fair. But we struggled with tyre degradation; we burnt through them too quickly. We picked the hard compound, but honestly, looking back, I should’ve gone with the soft.”
He said there’s plenty to analyse, and really, the key is getting a better grip on their car as they look ahead to Canada. “We don’t have much time, but in the short term, we need to fix the degradation. We have some ideas, but putting them together is our biggest challenge in the next few weeks.”
Cadillac may be the new kid on the block and still finding its feet, but it’s already starting to make an impact. The road out of the lower ranks won’t be easy, but they’re moving in the right direction.
HOW KIMI ANTONELLI’S THREE-RACE WIN STREAK IS REDEFINING THE MERCEDES TEAM HIERARCHY
With a 43-second gap in Miami, Antonelli proves he’s ready to lead the World Championship. Can Russell bounce back in Canada?
David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver, recently pointed out that Kimi Antonelli might be on track to overtake George Russell as Mercedes’ team leader.
Antonelli has been on an impressive run, clinching victories in the last three races and pulling ahead by 20 points over his main competitor and teammate, Russell.
At the Miami race, the young Italian once again outperformed his more seasoned teammate, with Russell managing only fourth place, trailing by 43 seconds.
Coulthard acknowledged Antonelli’s rapid rise in 2026, which is just his second season in F1. He highlighted Antonelli’s strengths and suggested that the Italian is, in many ways, now leading the Mercedes team.
“He’s come of age,” Coulthard said during the Up To Speed podcast.
Despite being relatively new, Antonelli has shown resilience, dealing not only with the pressure from a driver like Lando ready to strike but also with technical glitches like inconsistent paddle shifts. Coulthard mentioned how Antonelli kept his cool even when his engineer, Bono, was trying to help troubleshoot the issue in a tense moment.
“I think he’s earned the right to lead the World Championship,” Coulthard added, noting that this situation probably feels uncomfortable for George. Still, the expectations now lean heavily toward Antonelli leading the team, especially based on recent results.
Coulthard also pointed out that Russell has the experience and skill to reclaim his position as the team’s lead driver, but emphasised that only one can come out on top; someone must finish first and the other second.
The rivalry between them might start opening doors for other teams. Coulthard noted that improvements from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull were already noticeable, especially in Miami.
“Winning in the best car isn’t always straightforward. Many have tried and struggled,” he said.
For Russell, who is feeling the weight of this momentum shift, the upcoming race in Canada will be crucial if he wants to close the gap and halt Antonelli’s winning streak.
