Norris overcame inner turmoil and a 34-point deficit to Oscar Piastri, his McLaren teammate, to win his first Formula 1 drivers’ title by 2 points over a surging Max Verstappen, the four-time champion. Norris is McLaren’s first drivers’ champion since Lewis Hamilton in 2008.

The shortlist of six contenders for the 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award was announced earlier this month.

In his words, his favourite number “has always been 3… I like one 3 better than two,” a reflection that reveals self-awareness and a readiness to turn the page after years of total dominance.

Lando Norris apologised after missing the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards less than two weeks after he won the F1 Drivers’ Championship.

Rory McIlroy added yet more silverware to his already impressive 2025 haul this evening as he was named Sports Personality of the Year and also saw his European Ryder Cup squad named Team of the Year.

There cannot have been a dry eye on the nation’s sofas as we recounted the fathers of the girls killed in the Southport tragedy running the London marathon together.