Lewis Hamilton has praised Lando Norris after the McLaren driver secured his first Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship title at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Norris clinched the headlines with a third-place finish in the season finale, edging out Max Verstappen by two points in the final standings.
The title makes Norris the 11th British driver to win the championship and gives McLaren their first drivers’ crown since Hamilton’s debut win with the team in 2008.
Hamilton hails fellow Brit
Following the race, Hamilton expressed pride in his fellow Brit and revealed he had spoken to Norris in the lead-up to the decisive weekend.
The seven-time champion said he told Norris not to change anything ahead of the finale, urging him to trust the approach that had put him in title contention.
“I’m really, really happy for him,” Hamilton explained to Sky Sports F1.
“Winning your first world championship is truly special. The UK continues to pump out great drivers.
“I know what the feeling is also when you’re coming into this race and fighting for your first championship, it’s nerve-wracking.
“I’m just really proud of him.”
Reflecting on Ferrari’s season
Hamilton also reflected on the end of his first season as a Ferrari driver following the Abu Dhabi GP.
The Briton finished the race in P8 after starting from P16, recovering strongly to close out the campaign.
That result ensured he maintained his record of finishing every Formula 1 season inside the top six of the Drivers’ Championship.
Despite that consistency, Hamilton endured a challenging debut year with Ferrari, failing to score a podium finish for the first time in his 18-year Formula 1 career.
Looking ahead, the 40-year-old said his focus has already turned to rest and recovery after a demanding season.
“At the moment, I’m only looking forward to the break – just disconnecting, not speaking to anyone,” he admitted.
“No one’s going to be able to get a hold of me this winter. I won’t have my phone with me. I’m looking forward to that. Just completely unplugged from the matrix.”
With the 2025 season now complete, attention will turn to 2026 and the introduction of new regulations.
READ MORE: Ashes news: Stokes identifies mentality issue after England thumped by Australia in Brisbane
SportJustSport writers