Lando Norris marked his triumph as the new Formula 1 World Champion with an unforgettable celebration alongside family, teammates, and his model girlfriend. The 26-year-old British driver was spotted reveling in the moment, champagne in hand, singing iconic anthems to the delight of fans after securing the championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Although Norris finished third in the race while Max Verstappen won, his lead was enough to clinch the title by a narrow margin of just two points. Overcome with emotion, Norris was seen wiping away tears in his car and sharing heartfelt embraces with his parents before receiving a kiss from his girlfriend, Magui Corceiro.
The ecstatic champion took to the podium to celebrate with fans and was warmly congratulated by the McLaren team in the pit lane. The festivities continued late into the night at the W Hotel on Yas Island, after Norris completed his media commitments.
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The Bristol-born driver, who grew up in Glastonbury, was filmed entering the Amber Lounge nightclub hand-in-hand with Corceiro, rekindling their nearly three-year on-again-off-again relationship confirmed to be back on earlier this year. Dressed sharply in a white button-up shirt, Norris energetically sang along to Queen’s ‘We Are The Champions’ and Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline,’ joined by fellow F1 stars like Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and his fiancée Alexandra Saint Mleux.
Even before the nightclub celebrations, Norris was caught making a playful face after sipping from a can bearing the Monster Energy drink logo, a sponsor of his team. He later revealed the drink contained far more than just Monster energy but kept the exact contents a secret.
Despite their ability to celebrate anywhere in the world, McLaren chose to keep the party close to home due to the post-season testing scheduled at Yas Marina Circuit on Tuesday. Norris was keen to enjoy the victory with his McLaren colleagues, whom he credited for the season’s success.
“My friends, I really hope they’ve all had many drinks already because I want to go and party with them, because this is more about them than it is about me. My mechanics, my engineers, I mean, crap, we’ve got a test on Tuesday morning,” Norris said enthusiastically.
Norris is Britain’s first F1 World Champion since Lewis Hamilton’s record-equalling seventh championship in 2020. He joins Hamilton and Jenson Button (2009 champion) as the only British drivers crowned World Champion in the new millennium.
His win over Verstappen and teammate Oscar Piastri has boosted his odds to be named the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Bookmakers now position Norris as the second favorite at 5/2, eyeing a spot alongside Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, and Hamilton who have won the prestigious award. Rory McIlroy currently holds the top spot due to his Masters victory and Ryder Cup leadership, while England’s football stars Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton follow as contenders.
Norris’ remarkable achievement and celebrations mark a historic moment in British motorsport and set the stage for an exciting new era with McLaren.