P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Bizarre F1 quirk means Lando Norris has to wait for world championship trophy.
Lando Norris became the F1 world champion at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but he won’t receive the actual trophy right away. Despite finishing third in the season finale and defeating Max Verstappen, Norris will have to wait for the FIA’s prize-giving gala in Uzbekistan on December 12 to hold the coveted trophy. The FIA Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship Trophy, a sterling silver cup with gold detailing, carries the signatures of all 35 F1 champions in history. Norris won’t have a permanent trophy, as the actual one will be displayed at McLaren’s factory and handed to the 2026 champion a year later. If Norris wants a replica for his personal collection, he will have to pay for it, like Verstappen did for his trophy collection at home. Hamilton and Verstappen’s experiences also show how drivers choose to handle the number one designation on their cars after becoming champions.
