RacingLando Norris has landed on Time magazine’s 2026 TIME100 list after winning his first Formula 1 world title with McLaren, and he is the only driver from the series to make this year’s selection.
The recognition follows Norris’ 2025 championship run, which Time’s summaries describe as a decisive season that still went all the way to the final round. Norris sealed the title in Abu Dhabi in an emotional finish, beating Max Verstappen by just two points after Verstappen’s late charge kept the fight alive to the end. The summaries also say the contest tightened further because of a near-mistake by McLaren.
That title put Norris into a small part of the sport’s history. He became the 35th Formula 1 world champion, did it in his seventh season in grand prix racing, and reached the mark with 11 wins across that period, according to the source material.
Time’s profile on Norris was written by Paris Hilton. “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,” Paris Hilton, media personality and TIME100 contributor, wrote in Norris’s TIME100 profile for Time magazine.
Hilton focused as much on Norris away from the car as on the title itself. “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,” Paris Hilton, media personality and TIME100 contributor, wrote in Norris’s TIME100 profile for Time magazine.
She also pointed to the way he handles himself with supporters at races. “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,” Paris Hilton, media personality and TIME100 contributor, wrote in Norris’s TIME100 profile for Time magazine.
According to the source material, Hilton’s entry framed those fan interactions as part of why Norris stood out for the list. The summaries also describe this as Norris’ first appearance on the TIME100.
For Formula 1, that leaves Norris in a rare spot beyond the paddock. He is not just a newly crowned champion after that tight Abu Dhabi finish over Verstappen. He is also the only current F1 driver recognized on Time’s 2026 list of the world’s most influential people.