Darts star Luke Littler backs Lando Norris for BBC Sports Personality of the Year

Darts world number one Luke Littler has thrown his support behind newly-crowned Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris to win the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. Littler, who is also nominated, believes Norris is the deserving winner following his historic title victory.

Why it matters:

The BBC SPOTY award is one of the UK's highest sporting honors, celebrating the year's most outstanding British achievement. A win for Norris would mark a significant moment for Formula 1, bringing the sport back into the mainstream UK spotlight and recognizing a driver other than Lewis Hamilton for the first time in over a decade. It would also solidify Norris's transition from a perennial contender to a champion in the public consciousness.

The details:

• Luke Littler, the teenage darts sensation and 2024 SPOTY runner-up, publicly endorsed Norris after his first-round victory at the PDC World Darts Championship. When asked about his own chances, Littler smiled and said, "No, I don't think so. But if I would have to give my winner, definitely Lando."
• The two athletes share a connection, as Littler was a guest in the paddock at the 2024 British Grand Prix, where he taught drivers, including Norris, how to play darts.
• Norris is one of six nominees for the 2025 award. The field includes golf's Rory McIlroy, England women's rugby star Ellie Kildunne, and England women's footballers Hannah Hampton and Chloe Kelly.
• Lewis Hamilton is the most recent F1 driver to win SPOTY, claiming his second award in 2020. Formula 1 is the second-most successful sport in the award's history, with six British drivers winning since 1954.

What's next:

The winner will be decided by a public vote during the live ceremony on Thursday, December 18th. Norris's championship-winning season, culminating in his first title in Abu Dhabi, makes him a strong favorite. Following his title celebrations, Norris is set to officially receive the Drivers' Championship trophy at the FIA Prize Giving Gala, adding another accolade to a landmark week.