Lando Norris has emerged because the third-highest paid F1 driver of the 2025 season after profitable his first drivers’ championship on Sunday on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The McLaren driver had a breakout season this 12 months, securing 18 podiums in 24 races, together with 7 race wins.
He entered the season finale in Abu Dhabi with a 12-point lead over reigning champion Max Verstappen. All of the Briton wanted to do was end on the rostrum, and the 2025 title was his. That’s exactly what he did, and an enormous spotlight was his gorgeous double overtake of Lance Stroll and Liam Lawson on lap 19 of 58.
As per Forbes, Lando Norris earned $18 million in wage, $10 million in bonuses for profitable the drivers’ championship, and $29.5 million in efficiency bonuses for his outcomes all through the season. At $57.5 million, he grew to become the third-highest-paid driver behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
In line with Forbes, Hamilton earned an estimated $70 million in wage and roughly $500,000 in bonuses. Nevertheless, he was nonetheless crushed to the highest by Verstappen, who, along with his $65 million wage, earned $11 million in bonuses, for a complete paycheck of $76 million.
Verstappen has been the highest-paid driver for the final 4 straight seasons, since he received his first championship in 2021 by beating Hamilton. Earlier this 12 months, a report claimed that George Russell had turn out to be the third-highest-paid driver after signing his Mercedes contract renewal in October, which paid him $40 million in wage.
He might’ve stayed put in quantity three behind Verstappen and Hamilton if not for Lando Norris’ efficiency bonuses. Charles Leclerc occupied quantity 5, with $30 million in earnings, up from $27 million in 2024.
UK avenue renamed to ‘Lando Lane’ to honor ‘area’s favourite son’ Lando Norris after F1 title win
Lando Norris‘ F1 championship win induced a heartwarming response in Somerset, the place he grew up. A avenue at Clark’s Village in Road, UK, was renamed ‘Lando Lane’ to commemorate his achievement.
Norris attended Midfield College in Road, the place he started his karting journey as a seven-year-old. Chris Davis, Centre Director of Clarks Village, hailed the McLaren driver as “one of many area’s favourite sons.”
“Lando is a neighborhood hero, and we’re all completely delighted that he’s been topped World Champion,” Davis mentioned through Rayo. “He spent his adolescence right here in Somerset, and it was throughout this era in his life when he took up karting, a path that has finally led to him changing into one of the best F1 driver on this planet. Renaming our avenue ‘Lando Lane’ is our approach of commemorating this unimaginable achievement from one of many area’s favorite sons.”
What Lando Norris was most pleased with about his journey to profitable the 2025 F1 championship was that he did it his approach, or “Lando’s approach,” as McLaren workforce principal Andrea Stella known as it. The Briton did not attempt to emulate the aggression that many F1 world champions previously displayed.
“That’s one of many issues that makes me most proud,” Norris mentioned in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. “I really feel like I’ve simply managed to win it the way in which I needed to win it, which was not by being somebody I’m not. Not making an attempt to be as aggressive as Max or as forceful as different champions may need been previously… no matter it might be. I’m completely happy I simply received it my approach. I’m completely happy I might exit and be myself and win it Lando’s approach, as Andrea would inform me. That actually makes me completely happy.”
Lando Norris will carry the #1 on his automotive within the 2026 season, which is just allowed for reigning champions. Max Verstappen had been utilizing it since 2022, after profitable his first championship in 2021.
Edited by Yash Kotak
