Lando Norris and McLaren nominated for Laureus World Sports Awards

Newly-crowned Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris and his championship-winning McLaren team have been recognized with nominations for the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards. Norris is up for the Breakthrough of the Year award, while McLaren is in contention for World Team of the Year following their dominant 2025 season.

Why it matters:

The nominations highlight Formula 1's prominent place in the global sporting landscape and serve as a significant external validation for Norris's dramatic title victory and McLaren's remarkable two-year resurgence. Recognition from Laureus, often considered the "Oscars of Sport," underscores the magnitude of their achievements beyond the confines of the F1 paddock.

The Details:

• Norris's Nomination: Lando Norris is nominated for the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year award. This follows his 2025 Drivers' Championship win, where he clinched his first title by defeating Max Verstappen in a final-race showdown in Abu Dhabi, winning by a mere two points.
• McLaren's Nomination: The McLaren F1 Team is nominated for Laureus World Team of the Year. The Woking-based squad secured its second consecutive Constructors' Championship in 2025, cementing its return to the top of the sport.
• The Competition: Norris faces stiff competition from other rising stars across sports, including footballer Désiré Doué, tennis player João Fonseca, NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, darts champion Luke Littler, and swimmer Zidi Yu.
• McLaren's rivals for the team award include the England Women's football team (Euro champions), the European Ryder Cup team, the Indian Women's Cricket World Cup winners, the Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA), and UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain.
• Notable Absence: No active F1 driver was nominated for the premier World Sportsman of the Year award this cycle. However, MotoGP's Marc Marquez, who won his seventh title in a dramatic comeback season, is among the nominees in that category.

What's next:

The winners across all categories will be unveiled at a ceremony in Madrid on April 20. While the competition is fierce, the nominations alone mark a historic moment for Norris and McLaren, placing them among the year's most celebrated athletes and teams in world sport. A win would further solidify their legacy following a near-perfect season.