Carlos Sainz has joked that he will be keeping his friend Lando Norris in check if he shows any signs of arrogance now he is reigning Formula 1 World Champion.
The Spaniard is one of the Brit’s closest friends in the paddock, having spent two seasons together at McLaren, before moving on to Ferrari in 2021.
Norris was finally able to realise his dream in 2025 by claiming the Drivers’ title, overhauling team-mate Oscar Piastri’s 34-point lead and fighting off the challenge of Max Verstappen.
It gives the McLaren driver the privilege of carrying #1 in 2026, his title defence coming amid the exciting prospect of the regulations cycle.
Sainz had previously championed Norris’ public openness to discussing his psychological struggles, and told Sky F1 that it, along with his gentlemanly driving, makes him a unique champion.
“Obviously very happy for him as a driver, because I think he’s always been an extremely quick driver,” he said. “Quicker, I think, than what people give him credit for, and extremely talented.”
“Since I worked with him in McLaren the first years, I saw a guy that had the speed to be multiple World Champion, if it was purely down to speed.
“I think along the way, he’s developed a lot of his skills, and now he’s a World Champion.
“But more more than anything, happy for him as a person, because I think he’s a driver that doesn’t follow the typical stereotype of World Champion.
“I think he’s always stayed very true to himself, very honest, very open about his own struggles, and he’s just proven to everyone that you can also be World Champion, being that good guy, or that open, nice guy, that you don’t need to be ruthless or, badass, you know, to show to everyone that you can be World Champion.
“So happy for him. I hope he stays the same. I hope it doesn’t get in his head, this World Championship now, and he keeps winning himself, or if anything, he relaxes even more, and now he can enjoy Formula 1 even more.”
Carlos Sainz: Having Verstappen ‘breathing down’ Lando Norris’ neck ‘never easy’
When asked if he genuinely feels his champion status might change him and his personality, Sainz quipped that he will be keeping his friend and golfing buddy in check.
“I will definitely be in his ear on those golf rounds if I see he’s getting a bit show off, you know,” he said.
“But no, I think he must have suffered a bit this year with all the social media pressure, journalism pressure from criticising him when he was struggling at the first half, now when Max was getting close.
“It’s never easy to be World Champion with Max breathing down your neck, but he’s kept it more or less under control, and he’s won it.”
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