16 April 2026 16:00 (UTC)
The McLaren Mastercard Driver is one of six athletes to be honoured by TIME Magazine
Reigning Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris has been named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME Magazine for 2026.
The British star is the only Formula 1 driver on the list and one of just six athletes, alongside Alysa Liu, Noah Lyles, Chloe Kim, Scottie Scheffler and Hilary Knight. This marks Lando’s first appearance on TIME’s illustrious annual TIME100 list.
Lando won his first Formula 1 World Championship in December 2025, securing the title in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ahead of four-time World Champion Max Verstappen and team-mate Oscar Piastri. He also played a key role in McLaren’s second successive Constructors’ Championship, which was sealed with a record-equalling six rounds to spare.
En route to the title, Lando scored seven Grand Prix wins, seven Poles and 18 podiums, becoming Formula 1’s 35th Drivers’ World Champion, the 11th from Great Britain, and the eighth for McLaren.
Lando’s triumph marked our first Drivers’ title since Lewis Hamilton - who was previously named on the TIME100 list - in 2008. Born in Bristol in 1999, the 26-year-old first joined McLaren as a Test and Simulator Driver in 2017, rising through the ranks to become Test and Reserve Driver in 2018, before being promoted to a Formula 1 seat in 2019.
He has since made more than 150 Grand Prix starts, overtaking David Coulthard to become our most experienced driver. Across eight seasons, he has claimed 11 victories - the sixth-most in our history - alongside 16 Poles and 44 podiums.
The McLaren Mastercard Driver was nominated by entrepreneur and philanthropist Paris Hilton, who said: “I first met Lando Norris at F1 Miami, and I instantly loved his energy. He’s obviously incredibly talented, but what really makes him stand out is how kind, genuine, and down-to-earth he is.
“Even with all the pressure of the spotlight, he stays grounded, which is rare. Watching him become world champion in 2025 was honestly amazing—so well deserved, and such a major moment.
“I’ve also seen him with fans at races, and it’s very special. He takes the time to connect with everyone, and you can tell it truly means something to him. He’s so fun, warm, and approachable. I love that he’s inspiring so many people by showing that you can work hard, reach the top, and still stay completely true to yourself.”
