Verstappen Congratulates Norris and McLaren via Video Message After Missing FIA Gala

Max Verstappen sent his "big congratulations" to Lando Norris and McLaren in a recorded video message played at the FIA Prize Giving Gala, where Norris was officially crowned the 2025 Formula 1 World Champion. The Red Bull driver was absent from the ceremony in Uzbekistan due to illness, missing the formal handover of the championship trophy he lost by a mere two points.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's public acknowledgment, delivered remotely, formally closes a fiercely contested season and underscores the respect between the top contenders. His absence from the event, where the champion is traditionally celebrated, highlights the fine margins in F1 after a year where he won the most races but fell just short of a fifth consecutive title.

The details:

• Verstappen confirmed in his message that doctors had prevented him from flying to the event, citing illness.
• He extended congratulations to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem on his re-election before specifically praising his rivals.
• "A big congratulations to McLaren and especially Lando," Verstappen said. "You guys had an unbelievable season and it was really cool to be able to race against you guys until the end."
• Norris's trophy presentation made him the 11th British world champion and the first McLaren driver to win the title since Lewis Hamilton in 2008.
• Verstappen had previously been critical of the mandatory gala, calling it "nonsense" and stating he would not attend if it were optional.

The big picture:

The 2025 season was defined by an epic title fight that went down to the final race in Abu Dhabi. Despite Verstappen leading the championship for most of the year and securing a season-high eight wins, Norris's consistency with seven victories for McLaren ultimately prevailed. Verstappen has pointed to his collision with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix—which cost him critical points and a 10-second penalty—as a pivotal mistake, but also noted that McLaren's own stumbles in the second half of the season brought him back into contention.

What's next:

Verstappen signed off his video message with "see you guys all in 2026," setting the stage for the next chapter. All focus now shifts to the winter development period and the 2026 technical regulation overhaul, where both Red Bull and McLaren will aim to build championship-winning cars from the start. The rivalry between Verstappen and Norris, solidified by this intense season, is poised to continue as the central narrative of the sport.