Two McLaren drivers, two first world championship titles—and a surprising number of identical key data points: A look at one of the most curious parallels in Formula 1 history
Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris have more in common than just British citizenship. They are now both Formula 1 world champions. What is particularly astonishing, however, is how many parallels there are between Hamilton and Norris’ paths to their first titles.
It starts with the starting position: Hamilton and Norris are driving for McLaren in their first title year, the traditional British team with a New Zealand founder that has produced world champions such as James Hunt, Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, and Mika Häkkinen in the past. After several years of “dry spell,” both are bringing great success back to McLaren.
The title season begins promisingly for both: Hamilton wins the 2008 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, as does Norris in 2025 – both on March 16. So both are already leading the drivers’ standings after the first race of the year.
Victories at two major classics
Hamilton and Norris each have to wait a good two months for their second victory of the season. Then the next success comes for both of them – and what a success it is: Hamilton and Norris each win the Monaco Grand Prix on May 25, one of the “crown jewels” of the Formula 1 calendar. For both of them, it was their first victory in the classic race in the principality. The summer brought a turning point in the World Championship title race for Hamilton and Norris: both lost the World Championship lead and found themselves in the role of the hunter. However, both then managed to catch up.
The provisional crowning glory of this comeback comes a few weeks after Monaco: in 2008, Hamilton wins his home race at Silverstone for the first time, and in 2025, Norris does the same – on July 6, in front of a large crowd of British Formula 1 fans in the stands.
World champion in the final race
All of this puts Hamilton and Norris in a position to become world champions for the first time in the season finale. Both go into the final race with a lead – and both manage to win the overall World Championship by the narrowest of margins: Hamilton by one point against Felipe Massa in the Ferrari in 2008, Norris by two points against Max Verstappen in the Red Bull in 2025.
Both will once again be together for the final act: on December 12, Hamilton and Norris will be officially confirmed as world champions at the gala of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and will receive the World Championship trophy.
