Why Lando Norris is still yet to receive his F1 world championship trophy

It is now three days since Lando Norris became the 35th Formula 1 world drivers' champion, but he has yet to receive his trophy.

The crowning moment of a champion holding their trophy has created some of sport's most iconic images, from Bobby Moore on the shoulders of his team-mates after England won the 1966 FIFA World Cup to Michael Jordan crying after winning his first NBA championship with the Chicago Bulls. 

The image of the champion with their trophy, minutes after claiming the prize, full of raw emotion, is usually the money shot that becomes etched in the public psyche. 

But F1 is different. 

The world champion, whoever they may be, does not receive what is regarded as the ultimate prize in motorsport - the FIA Formula 1 world drivers' championship trophy to give it its full name - due to a bizarre quirk. 

Essentially, the F1 world drivers' champion, and also the winning constructors' champion, do not receive their trophy until the official FIA prize-giving ceremony. 

This is the end-of-season gala in which the FIA celebrates all of its champions from Formula 1 right down to karting, with the other world championships under its remit, including the World Endurance Championship and Formula E.

The reluctance to award the F1 trophy stems from the feeling that the gala, set to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, later this week, would lack some of the gravitas if the main event - namely the F1 world champion receiving his trophy - had happened on the podium in the final race.

President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has also previously described how young karters being able to mingle with the F1 world champion at the gala is important.

There is also the idea of a safety net. 

For example, after the controversy of Abu Dhabi 2021, Mercedes initially protested Max Verstappen's drivers' title, with the gala taking place four days later to crown the champion officially.

The idea of handing a driver the championship trophy only to have to rescind it and hand it to someone else is very messy, so no handover is made until protests are officially time-barred and the trophy is given to the driver who is supposed to have it.

Therefore, Norris is set to receive his trophy, with the original staying in his possession for a year until being returned for the 2026 world champion, on Friday in Tashkent, where Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri will also be in attendance.

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The trophy itself

Now, you might be wondering what the trophy actually looks like if you haven't seen it before.

It actually has not been around since the world championship began in 1950, but is a far more modern invention, being commissioned in 1995.

Costing just under £50,000 at the time, it is made of sterling silver, enamel, and 24 caret gold and weighs about 5kg.

It features the signature of every world champion back to Giuseppe Farina in 1950, with Norris in 2025 the 35th to feature on the swirling design.

The constructors' trophy is similar in design, and features the logo of every winning team since Vanwall won the inaugural championship in 1958.