- Norris secures Breakthrough of the Year at prestigious Laureus World Awards.
- World champion reflects on title-winning season from the McLaren HQ.
- Norris misses the ceremony to focus on preparation for the next race.
Lando Norris has added another badge of honour to his growing hall of achievements after receiving the Breakthrough of the Year award at the Laureus World Sports Awards. This award is bestowed upon individuals who deliver standout performances over the course of a year. The ceremony is often referred to as the sports equivalent of the Oscars for its prestige and recognition.
Norris rightly earned the award, as his F1 performance last year was a wild ride of ups and downs. In one moment, all his hopes were snatched (think: Zandvoort, Las Vegas double disqualification and Qatar strategy disaster), and in another, he shone through adversities (taking back the championship lead in Mexico and putting his car on the podium to earn his first title).
Across every race, he showcased resilience, consistency, and a will to never give up, fighting until the very last lap in Abu Dhabi, and snatching away the title from Max Verstappen, who was aiming for his fifth.
Norris wins Laureus World Sports Awards
Norris wasn’t physically present to take the award at the prestigious event; therefore, he sent a thank-you message from the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC). In the clip, initially, he shared that it’s a very special night for him before acknowledging the significance of the award and the event as a whole. He revealed that he’s “disappointed” that he couldn’t be present to accept the honour, praising the event and claiming that he has seen it many times on TV.
Explaining his reason for why he couldn’t make it, he added, “I’m here at MTC and working to make sure we’re prepared for the next race out. To everyone who had voted for me, to the committee for voting, thanks very much for awarding me this incredible award, alongside many incredible people that I was up against, and incredible people that have won it in the past.”
Moreover, he extended his gratitude to everyone involved in his journey, highlighting that they all deserve this award alongside him.
Who all won the Laureus breakthrough of the year award in the last 10 years?
- Lamine Yamal- Football -2025
- Jude Bellingham – Football – 2024
- Carlos Alcaraz- Tennis – 2023
- Emma Raducanu- Tennis – 2022
- Patrick Mahomes – American Football – 2021
- Egan Bernal – Cycling- 2020
- Naomi Osaka – Tennis – 2019
- Sergio Garcia- Golf – 2018
- Nico Rosberg – F1 – 2017
- Jordan Spieth – Golf- 2016
Latest achievements and honours by Norris:
- Won the Autosport Champion Award
- Named among Time 100 influential people in the “innovators category.”
- He was ranked third in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, with Rory McIlroy leading the category.
- He’s about to receive a Madame Tussauds statue this summer in London.
