Lando Norris has identified four drivers he believes stand out as “a level above” the rest of the Formula 1 grid.
The 26-year-old McLaren driver capped off his steady rise by winning his first world title last season, edging out Max Verstappen in a title fight that went down to the final laps. Piastri also played a key role in that contest, remaining close until late in the season.
For much of the year, Norris trailed in the standings but managed to claw his way back and eventually overtake Verstappen, clinching the championship by just two points.
With that victory, Norris became part of an exclusive group of world champions, joining names like Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher in F1 history.
Lando Norris names world champions in F1’s top tier
Lando Norris, speaking with Sky Sports’ Rachel Brookes for her new book ‘F1 Racing Drive’, pointed to four drivers he feels are operating at a different level to the rest.
Norris singled outVerstappen, Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, all world champions, as those who stand apart.
Brookes explained in her book: “It is understandable that today’s generation names its peers as those who stand out. And for the 2025 Formula 1 world champion, Lando Norris, born in 1999. They are drivers he has raced alongside who spring to mind.”
“I go off the people that I respect the most, and that’s only people I’ve been against,” Norris said. “What I can’t comment on is people that I have never been against. Lewis, Max, Fernando, Seb, these are the people I grew up watching the most.”
He added: “These are the people who are always a little bit different, in their own little ways; they always stood out that little bit more. And obviously, the results back that up.
“Max, Lewis, Fernando, Seb… for me those are just a level above everybody else.”
What Lewis Hamilton told Lando Norris before the 2025 Abu Dhabi title decider
Heading into the final day of the 2025 season in Abu Dhabi, Norris, Verstappen and Piastri were all still in with a chance of winning the title.
Norris ended up finishing third in that Grand Prix behind Piastri and Verstappen, which was enough to secure him the championship.
With Hamilton having been involved in several title fights over his career and winning seven of them, he sent a message to Norris before that final race.
Brookes said: “Having grown up watching him, it must have been surreal to receive a text message from Sir Lewis Hamilton prior to the deciding race in Abu Dhabi, telling him he could do it, and just carry on doing what he had been doing.”
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