My life flashed before my eyes as I won title!

WORLD CHAMP OPENS UP ABOUT HIS TRIUMPH AND THE CHALLENGE TO COME IN NEW ERA OF F1

- BY CHARLIE BENNETT

"I STILL have many more years in F1 and I will still try to get as many more championships as possible," Lando Norris said, relaxed, at ease and with the air of contentment that only a world title can bring.

"But if I never do, I'll still be happy."

More than two months on from the greatest day of his life, and Norris still has to pinch himself every morning, check his camera roll and glance at the trophy cabinet for evidence.

The 26-year-old realised his dream of winning the World Championship and yet he still has to make sure that is not all it was.

After 24 races across five continents and 10 different time zones, he prevailed to become the 11th British champion in history last season, but in the relentless, furious, madcap world of F1, everyone else has moved on.

New engines need making, new cars designing and new drivers bedding in for another whistlestop 10-month tour around the world.

Indeed, less than 48 hours after he crossed the finish line in Abu Dhabi, had his photo beamed around the world and set off into a night of celebration, F1’s end-of-season test began, firing the starting gun on the 2026 campaign.

That makes those quiet winter weeks even more important for Norris to bask in the limelight of his lifetime’s achievement.

"Twenty years I spent, from starting karting to last year, trying to achieve what I achieved," he said.

"I guess not many people get to achieve their life goal. But that was it. So yeah, if I'm not smiling, then give me a punch or something, to remind me, because I achieved my goal in life. And I'm very happy and proud."

In true 2025 fashion, Norris’ celebrations were relatively tame in comparison to those who went before him. You'd half suspect the legendary rascal James Hunt would smack Norris round the head with a Champagne bottle had he been around to see the young Somerset racer in McDonald’s ordering McNuggets at six in the morning.