Why F1's Championship Trophy Isn't Awarded at the Race

Lando Norris clinched his first Formula 1 World Championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but the iconic moment of him lifting the sport's ultimate prize was conspicuously absent. The official FIA Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship trophy will not be presented to him until a prize-giving gala in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on December 12, a tradition that continues to baffle fans and deprive the sport of a defining visual.

Why it matters:

The championship trophy's absence from the climactic race moment undermines the creation of a lasting, iconic sporting image. While other major sports have made their ultimate prize—like the FIFA World Cup or the Stanley Cup—synonymous with victory, F1's most prestigious award remains an afterthought in its own celebration, handled in a formal setting far removed from the sweat, champagne, and roaring fans.

The Details:

• The trophy presented to the contenders in Abu Dhabi was a replica. The authentic sterling silver, gold, and enamel trophy, designed by Richard Fox in 1995, remained in London to be engraved with the winner's name.
• The FIA, as the sport's governing body, oversees the trophy's awarding and insists it be the centerpiece of its annual prize-giving gala, which celebrates champions from all its sanctioned series worldwide.
• Governance Divide: The practice highlights the curious separation between Formula 1 (the commercial entity owned by Liberty Media) and the FIA (the regulatory body). F1 leadership has previously pushed for the trophy to be awarded on the grid to capitalize on the moment, but the final decision rests with the FIA.
• Official Reasoning: The FIA cites two main reasons: preserving the significance of its year-end gala and a sporting code rule that allows for protests against the championship result up to four days before that gala, ensuring the trophy is only awarded when the result is absolutely final.

Between the lines:

The FIA's reasoning reveals an internal tension. While wanting F1 champions to attend the gala as role models for young drivers from all disciplines is understandable, the logic conflicts with F1's own race-day procedures. Grand prix trophies are awarded immediately on the podium, even though those results are also subject to post-race protests and changes, as seen when Norris's Las Vegas podium trophy was reallocated hours later. Treating the season's ultimate prize with more caution than a single race's trophy seems inconsistent.

What's next:

As Formula 1 continues to modernize and embrace fan-friendly moments, the awkward trophy tradition stands out. There is a clear opportunity for F1 and the FIA to collaborate on a solution—perhaps having the champion bring the race-awarded trophy to the gala—that creates a powerful, immediate celebration without diminishing the formal event. Until then, the sport's defining image of success will remain a driver in a tuxedo in a conference hall, not in race overalls on the shoulders of his team.