Hamilton Proudly Backs Norris' Maiden Title, Reveals Pre-Race Advice

Lewis Hamilton declared himself 'really proud' of Lando Norris after the McLaren star clinched his maiden F1 world title in Abu Dhabi, becoming the first Briton to win the championship since Hamilton's 2020 triumph. The seven-time champion confirmed he gave Norris specific pre-race advice during the high-pressure finale where Norris entered 12 points clear of Max Verstappen.

Why it matters:

This mentor-mentee dynamic between Britain's two F1 champions highlights the sport's generational transition while reinforcing F1's unique culture of respect across eras. Norris' victory breaks Mercedes' recent dominance and signals McLaren's resurgence, with Hamilton—now at Ferrari—positioned as both a symbolic passing-of-the-torch figure and potential future rival.

The Details:

• Hamilton revealed he told Norris before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: 'What you've been doing works, so don't change anything'—advice Norris credited for maintaining his composure while securing third place to seal the title.
• The championship battle featured rare intra-team tension as Oscar Piastri remained mathematically in contention until race day, trailing Norris by just four points.
• Norris publicly addressed his regret over 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix comments where he dismissed Hamilton's critique of McLaren's pace, saying: 'I say some stupid things... I wish I could take back.'
• In an emotional reflection, Norris placed Hamilton's legacy in historical context: 'He's seven-time world champion... the best driver that's ever been. I'm not even close to that. I might never be.'
• Hamilton had initially claimed pre-race he had 'no preference' about the title outcome and 'no advice' for Norris, focusing instead on his own Ferrari debut—a stance he revised post-victory.

What's next:

This championship moment sets the stage for evolving British dynamics in F1 as Hamilton transitions to Ferrari while Norris leads McLaren's new era. Their relationship—marked by mutual respect but punctuated by Norris' candid admissions of past missteps—creates compelling narrative tension for future seasons.

• Hamilton's 2025 Ferrari campaign will test whether he can challenge the team he helped build into champions, potentially facing Norris in genuine title battles.
• Norris' emotional maturity in addressing past comments suggests he's embracing championship responsibilities, though his 'heat of the moment' remarks indicate ongoing growth in handling F1's intense pressures.
• The UK's driver pipeline remains formidable with two world champions active simultaneously—a rarity since Hamilton and Jenson Button's overlapping careers—and rising talents like Oliver Bearman emerging.