Three-time Formula 1 world champion Sir Jackie Stewart has commended Lando Norris for securing his first drivers' title in 2025, emphasizing the driver's skill over the car's performance. Speaking at the 2026 Autosport Awards, Stewart described Norris as a stable and competitive talent. The McLaren driver clinched the championship with a narrow two-point lead over Max Verstappen.
At the 2026 Autosport Awards, where Lando Norris was celebrated for his 2025 Formula 1 drivers' title, motorsport legend Sir Jackie Stewart shared his assessment of the young Briton's achievement. Stewart, a three-time world champion, highlighted Norris's personal qualities amid the McLaren team's strong support.
"He’s a very stable young man," Stewart said. "First of all, he had a very good team and he had a very good technology team, particularly engineering. So the car was good."
However, he quickly added a key caveat: "It doesn’t matter how good the car is if the man doesn’t get the job done correctly. He did get it correctly done."
Throughout the 2025 season, McLaren supplied a competitive package that Norris maximized with consistent performances. He converted pole positions into victories and defended against challenges from Red Bull's Max Verstappen and his teammate Oscar Piastri. "He was very competitive for the whole season," Stewart noted. "And their staff, and being there as competitive as he is, it’s a good world championship."
Norris sealed the title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, finishing third in a safe drive to edge out Verstappen by just two points, despite the Dutch driver's late-season surge. The Yas Marina Circuit's fireworks marked the moment under the night sky.
Looking ahead, Stewart commented on Formula 1's 2026 regulation changes, introducing a powertrain blending internal combustion and electric power. "The sport's better today than it's ever been in the history of the sport," he said. "So, of course, Formula 1 has always been leading the world in motorsport technology. So the new lifestyle, if you like, of this new year is not something completely new. But how strong it'll be, we'll have to wait and see."
