2025 F1 world champion Lando Norris has opened up on F1 legend Lewis Hamilton’s first world championship victory in 2008, revealing quite how awestruck he was by the moment.
Lando Norris has opened up about the unforgettable moment that made him fall in love with Formula 1, recalling Lewis Hamilton’s breathtaking 2008
championship victory as “one of the most famous moments ever in F1.”
Norris, who became Britain’s first F1 world champion since Hamilton, reflected on the legendary finale while speaking alongside Declan Rice. The McLaren star admitted Hamilton’s dramatic title-winning drive at the Brazilian Grand Prix was the race that truly drew him into the sport.
Hamilton’s 2008 championship battle with Ferrari driver Felipe Massa went down to the final laps of the season. Entering the race with a seven-point advantage, Hamilton only needed a fifth-place finish to secure his maiden world title.
However, changing weather conditions turned the race into chaos. Late in the race, Hamilton slipped down to sixth after being overtaken by Sebastian Vettel, seemingly handing the championship to Massa. Ferrari celebrated wildly as Massa crossed the finish line in first place, believing the title was theirs.
But in one of the most dramatic endings in F1 history, Hamilton overtook Timo Glock on the final corner as Glock struggled for grip in the rain. The move lifted Hamilton back into fifth place enough to clinch the championship by a single point.
Recalling the iconic moment, Norris said: “This is the one where the commentators are going crazy. He hadn’t won the championship until the final corner when he passed Glock. It’s one of the most famous videos in Formula 1.”
Looking at Hamilton’s 2008 title-winning McLaren car, Norris added: “This was the first year I watched F1. I remember thinking, ‘This is sick — what is this?’ If I could, I’d steal this car any day.”
Hamilton later built on that historic success with a dominant era at Mercedes, winning six more world championships after joining the team in 2013. The seven-time champion now races for Ferrari, where he faces fresh competition from Norris and a resurgent McLaren team.
Today, Hamilton shares the all-time record of seven F1 world titles with Michael Schumacher and remains Formula 1’s record holder for race wins, pole positions, and podium finishes.