Lando Norris, a multiple race winner in the BRDC British F3 championship (the predecessor to GB3), has been crowned as 2025 Formula One World Champion in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The British driver had to finish third in the Grand Prix to guarantee the title, and despite moments of huge tension, he did just that to become the first McLaren world champion since Lewis Hamilton in 2008.
He started second on the grid, but was demoted a position early on by teammate Oscar Piastri. However, he was still perfectly in position, and even when needing to pass cars to keep in contention after his first pit stop, he carved his way through with precision and without contact.
It became almost certain after the second pit stop, when he re-emerged in front of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who had been the main threat to his third place for the majority of the contest.
After nullifying that threat, Norris was able to ease the car home across the final laps, to clinch the championship crown amidst huge scenes of celebration.
"Oh god, I've not cried in a while!" said Norris afterwards. "I didn't think I'd cry but I did. It's a long journey, first of all I want to say a big thanks to my guys, everyone at McLaren, my mum and dad, they are the ones who have supported me since the beginning.
"It feels amazing, I now know what Max feels like, and I want to congratulate Max and Oscar, my two biggest rivals. We did it, and I'm so proud of everyone.
"It was a long race and we've seen anything can happen in F1. I kept pushing until the last two or three laps from the end. They didn't make my life easy this year, but I'm happy!
"I want to enjoy this moment, not many people in the world or F1 get to experience what I have this season, so I'm happy for everyone. I'm happy for everyone more than me. I'm just crazy happy!"
Norris competed in a total of 15 races in the UK's premier single-seater category across 2015 and 2016, winning two races in the BRDC F4 Autumn Trophy for HHC Motorsport in 2015 before claiming four victories with Carlin in the main season the following year, as the series morphed into BRDC British F3.
Norris' career then took him through the FIA Formula 3 European Championship in the following year, before moving up to Formula 2 in 2018, finishing as runner-up to fellow alumni George Russell.
Both moved into F1 in 2019, with Norris joining McLaren, and Norris took his first victory with the team in Miami last year. In total, Norris has 11 F1 wins and 44 podiums, and now joins an elite list of drivers to have become World Champion.
Norris is the 11th British driver to win the title, following in the footsteps of Mike Hawthorn, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, John Surtees, Jackie Stewart, James Hunt, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.