British Formula One driver Lando Norris, 26, embraced model girlfriend Magui Corceiro after becoming world champion for the first time in his career following a thrilling title-decider in the final race of the season.
The Bristol-born driver is the first British champion of the sport since his idol Lewis Hamilton won the last of his seven titles in 2020 and cut an emotional figure when his title was confirmed as he broke down on the team radio.
Much of the attention going into the race had been on Norris’ nerve, and whether he could hold it together after the title race was blown wide open last time out when he, alongside McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, were disqualified.
But, after holding it together in qualifying to ensure he started the race second behind relentless champion Max Verstappen, he carefully navigated the next 90 minutes to secure his title and become the 11th British driver to win the title.
A plethora of celebrities watched on in Abu Dhabi, including actress Madelaine Petsch, social media star Nataly Osmann and football favourites Thierry Henry, Micah Richards and Kate Scott.
Norris’ model girlfriend, Magui Corceiro, also watched on, donning a black dress and confident look as she strolled around before the race. As Norris crossed the line, his garage erupted in cheers as Norris broke down into tears in his car.
‘That’s it mate, you are world champion. Is this the world champion hotline?’ came the call from the team radio as Norris crossed the line. He replied: ‘Thank you guys. You made a kid’s dream true. Thank you guys. I love you mum, I love you dad, thanks for everything.’
As he got our his car, he wiped his eyes as his parents watched on, with Norris looking in their direction and cheering. The first to congratulate his was Piastri, before he embraced his parents.
A loud cheer came from the crowd as he took off his helmet. His first words when interviewed were: ‘Oh God. I have not cried in a while, i didn’t think I would cry but I did. iti is a long journey. I want to say a bit thanks to my guys, everyone at McLaren, my parents.
I am not crying. My mum, my dad, they are they ones who I supported me at the beginning. Oh, I look like a loser! It feels amazing. I now know what Max feels like a bit, I want to congratulate Max and Oscar, it has been an honour.
‘It had been a long year, but we did it, and I am so proud of everyone. I knew it was a long race and anything can happen, I kept pushing until the last two or three laps but I wanted to fight to the end, that is what we had to do this season. Max and Oscar did not make my life easy this year. But I am happy.
‘Not many people in Formula One get to experience what I have experienced this year. I am happy for everyone more than me, I am crazy happy. It’s been a long journey with me and McLaren, we have been through crazy difficult times and plenty of good times. I feel like I did my part for the team this year, I am very proud of myself but more proud for everyone I have made cry.
The Brit’s love life has been the focus of many Formula One followers. He and Corceiro had been on and off for a while, but they seem to now be as secure as ever.
Their relationship first hit the headlines when Corceiro, 23, was spotted driving with Norris in the back of his Fiat in 2023 – with the actress previously known as the long-term girlfriend of former Chelsea forward Joao Felix.
Reports have suggested that they have been on and off for the best part of two years. Corceiro had also been seen at Formula One races cheering on Norris alongside his family, and has also been snapped kissing the world championship contender.
Speaking on their relationship in September, Norris told Vogue: ‘We met a few years ago, but we were never really together until more recently.’
When asked what is ‘special’ about his lover, he replied: ‘Everything. She’s someone I can very much be myself with. Very down to earth and she lives quite a crazy life as well. It’s nice when we can both just [rent] a boat for the day or go home together and chill.’
One of four siblings, Lando attended Millfield School, a private boarding school in Somerset. His millionaire father, Adam, paid for his karting lessons from the age of six and he left the school to pursue his racing career, with a manager and trainer paid for as he chased the dream.
He needed to finish in the top three on Sunday in Abu Dhabi to guarantee the title, and that was up in the air early when he was overtaken by Piastri on the opening lap of the race having failed to get ahead of Verstappen off the start line.
Is was the top three who were battling it out to become world champion. Verstappen, who won the last four championships in a row, was 12 points behind the Brit, with Piastri a further two behind Verstappen.
All three drivers are good friends, but things have, at times, become heated. Before the race, Verstappen, who drives for Christian Horner’s former team Red Bull, put pressure on his rivals by saying that he was only in the title race ‘because of the failings of others’, referring to McLaren’s disqualification for an illegal car.
Norris hit back, saying: ‘Max knows a lot about a lot of things but he also doesn’t have a clue about other things’ – but it has generally been adjudged that there is a difference in mentality between the rivals.
Verstappen, 28, also suggested that he would have won the title much earlier had he been in a McLaren. Maybe so, but Norris managed to get the job done in the end.
He is the seventh-youngest world champion in history, and left fans on the edges of their seats throughout. He pitted early to try and gain an advantage, and faced having to fight through the field as Verstappen drove into the distance at the front of the grid.
There was also doubt in the final few laps. Norris was third after all pit stops were completed, but Charles Leclerc – Hamilton’s team-mate – was gaining late.
McLaren still had the option of dropping Piastri, who was out of the running, back, but didn’t need to, and Norris eventually strolled home.
In the final moments, Norris’ family watched on from his garage, including mother Cisca Wauman, looking nervous as their son was on the verge of the history he would go onto achieve.
