F1 legends and rivals flood social media with praise after Lando Norris' championship win

The Formula 1 grid has taken to social media to congratulate Lando Norris on his first drivers’ championship title after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Briton secured the championship with a third-place finish at the Yas Marina Circuit behind race winner Max Verstappen and his team-mate Oscar Piastri in second.

As Norris’s celebrations went on late into the night, his fellow drivers and others from within the F1 paddock shared their messages of support for the McLaren driver.

“Congratulations,” Piastri commented on Norris’s Instagram post, and Haas driver Esteban Ocon added: “Mega job mate, well deserved, enjoy the celebrations!!”

1996 F1 champion Damon Hill also commented, “Super season Lando. You are a very worthy Champion IMHO,” and Alpine driver Franco Colapinto wrote: “LEGEND congrats mate enjoyyyyyyyy.”

George Russell

“Congrats mate, you’ve driven insane this year!!! Came a long way since these days, enjoy the moment.”

Max Verstappen

“Unbelievably proud. We never gave up and kept pushing until the very end. Thank you Red Bull Racing, Honda and everyone for your support along the way!!!

“Lando congratulations on your first championship. Well done mate.”

Carlos Sainz

“Massive congratulations to Lando on his first drivers’ championship! He’s an incredible driver and he has proven that you can achieve your highest goals staying true to yourself! Congrats my muppet friend! Well deserved!”

Alex Albon

“Congrats Lando, my grandma is going to be so happy!! Really happy for you, amazing job, amazing season!”

Fernando Alonso

“Thank you, 2025, for another season doing what I love most — racing and fighting alongside this team Aston Martin. It’s been a year full of challenges on every front, and now it’s time for a few weeks of well-earned rest and preparation to come back at 100% next season. Huge congratulations to Lando on a well deserved title. Bravo.”

Esteban Ocon

“Massive congrats Lando Norris, F1 world champ! well deserved.”

James Vowles

“Congratulations to Lando, Zak, Andrea and McLaren. A hard-fought championship with huge pressure coming into the final race for all contenders. We start all over again tomorrow, looking forward to 2026!”

Mercedes

“F1 World Champion for the first time. Congratulations, Lando Norris.”

Zak Brown

“We did it! Drivers’ champion. Constructors’ champions. Podiums, wins, relentless teamwork, this is McLaren back on top. Lando, Oscar, the entire team… mega job.”

Photos from Abu Dhabi GP – Race

Lando Norris, McLaren

Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Clive Mason / Getty Images

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Clive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Fadel Senna – AFP – Getty Images

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Beata Zawrzel / NurPhoto via Getty Images

Alexander Albon, Williams

Jayce Illman / Getty Images

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes

Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Jannik Sinner, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

George Russell, Mercedes

Jayce Illman / Getty Images

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Jayce Illman / Getty Images

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

Jayce Illman / Getty Images

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Kym Illman / Getty Images

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Jayce Illman / Getty Images

Ana de Armas

Peter Fox / Getty Images

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team, Alain Prost

Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Andrej Isakovic / AFP via Getty Images

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Clive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Andrej Isakovic / AFP via Getty Images