Norris outlines winter break plans after championship-winning 2025 season
Following his dramatic 2025 title win, Lando Norris plans a winter break combining team reviews, championship celebrations, and a personal skiing getaway. He aims to analyze the past season, enjoy his success, and mentally recharge before the crucial 2026 regulation changes.
Freshly crowned F1 world champion Lando Norris is taking a structured approach to the winter break, balancing team reviews, official celebrations, and a well-earned personal escape with friends and family. The McLaren driver, who narrowly defeated Max Verstappen for the 2025 title, is using the short off-season to reflect, recharge, and prepare for the major regulatory changes coming in 2026.
Why it matters:
A driver's approach to the off-season, especially after a career-defining championship win, can set the tone for the following year. With the 2026 technical overhaul looming, Norris's blend of professional review and personal disconnection is a strategic attempt to consolidate his success and avoid complacency before a critical new era for his team.
The details:
- Norris's immediate plans are professional, starting with a comprehensive team review of the 2025 season. He emphasized analyzing mistakes and missed opportunities to build a foundation for 2026.
- He will then attend the FIA Prize Gala, an event he is particularly excited for as the newly crowned champion, followed by McLaren's team Christmas party.
- For his personal time, Norris plans a skiing trip with friends, humorously noting his intention to "get all my injuries out of the way nice and early."
- A key part of his mental reset will be spending time with his immediate family and consciously trying to "forget this season. Forget that I drive in Formula 1."
The big picture:
Norris enters the off-season with immense confidence, acknowledging his flaws but secure in the knowledge that he has "what it takes" to win a championship. The 2025 winter break is unusually short due to the 2026 regulation changes, with private testing scheduled to begin on January 26th. His planned mix of analysis, celebration, and complete mental disengagement appears designed to process the high-pressure season and return fully refreshed for the next challenge, where McLaren will aim to defend its titles under all-new rules.