Lando Norris receives major boost as award rival 'pulls out'

Lando Norris has received a major boost in his bid to land a prestigious sporting award as a rival appeared to pull out.

Following his world championship success, Norris has been nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, with the ceremony due to take place on 18th December.

Open to British and Northern Irish athletes, the award has been presented annually since 1954 with previous F1 champion winners including Sir Jackie Stewart, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, and Sir Lewis Hamilton, with 1964 F1 champion John Surtees winning in 1959 for his motorcycle success. Sir Stirling Moss has also claimed the award. 

In 2025, Norris is one of six contenders for the main award, with golfer Rory McIlroy a leading favourite after completing the career grand slam with victory at The Masters, and also part of the European-winning Ryder Cup team. 

The other contenders are England Women's footballers Hannah Hampton and Chloe Kelly as well as England Women rugby union star Ellie Kildunne.

The sixth contender is reigning World Darts Champion Luke Littler, who claimed the title in January at just 17 years, 347 days old. 

However, Littler has indicated that as he sees no prospect in winning, he is not attending the event. 

"No," he told SportsBoom when asked if he believed he had any chance of winning. 

"I'm not going to it."

When asked if he had told the BBC he was not attending the event, Littler predicted that Hampton, Kildunne, and he would stay at home. 

“I think they know," he said of the BBC. 

"The people in the top three of the betting odds will go."

The sensation then predicted that Norris would become the latest F1 winner of the main award, with the two previously meeting in the F1 paddock ahead of the 2024 British GP.