Lando Norris vies for BBC Sports Personality of the Year award
Newly-crowned F1 world champion Lando Norris is a nominee for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. He aims to become the sixth F1 title winner to claim the honor, facing competition from stars like Rory McIlroy and Luke Littler in a public vote.
Lando Norris could join an elite group of Formula 1 world champions by winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) award, with the result to be decided by a public vote. The McLaren driver, who clinched his first F1 world title this season, faces stiff competition from stars across golf, darts, rugby, and football for the prestigious British sporting honor.
Why it matters:
Winning SPOTY would cement Norris's status as a national sporting icon beyond the world of motorsport, placing him alongside F1 legends like Lewis Hamilton and Jackie Stewart. The award recognizes impact and popularity, and a victory would highlight F1's continued cultural relevance in the UK and the broad appeal of Norris's championship-winning season.
The details:
- Norris is nominated alongside golfer Rory McIlroy, darts champion Luke Littler, rugby star Ellie Kildunne, and footballers Hannah Hampton and Chloe Kelly.
- The award is open to athletes from Great Britain and Northern Ireland and has been presented since 1954.
- Five F1 world champions have previously won: Jackie Stewart (1973), Nigel Mansell (1992), Damon Hill (1994, 1996), and Lewis Hamilton (2014, 2020).
- Stirling Moss, who never won an F1 title, was the first F1 driver to win the award in 1961.
By the numbers:
- 8: Total SPOTY wins for Formula 1, making it the second most successful sport behind athletics (19 wins).
- 6: Lewis Hamilton's record number of top-three finishes in SPOTY history (2 wins, 4 second-place finishes).
- 3: Andy Murray's record number of SPOTY wins, the only athlete to retain the award (2015, 2016).
What's next:
The winner will be decided by a public vote during the live BBC broadcast. A victory for Norris would mark a significant personal accolade and continue F1's strong tradition in the award, following Hamilton's most recent win for the sport in 2020.