McLaren confirms Lando Norris won't follow Mika Hakkinen's Woking celebration tradition

2025 Formula 1 champion Lando Norris will not take part in any celebration events near McLaren's headquarters in Woking.

Norris's 2025 championship marked the first time a McLaren driver had clinched the drivers' title since Lewis Hamilton in 2008, and before that, Mika Hakkinen. While the Finnish driver celebrated the moment by driving an F1 car around the streets of Woking, McLaren has confirmed that with the preparations for the 2026 season, there will not be time for Norris to do the same. 

According to the BBC, Woking Borough Council leader Ann-Marie Barker shared her hope that Norris could celebrate with the local residents in a letter to McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown.

"I do hope that we can celebrate this historic achievement locally," she wrote. "February's town‑centre celebration of your 2024 Constructors' Championship was a tremendous success, with activities fully booked and exceptional community engagement.

"We would be delighted to support your future plans so our community can once again share in the pride of your success."

But a McLaren spokesperson later admitted, "I'm afraid we won't be hosting any celebrations in Woking this time, unfortunately, as the team are super busy preparing for the season ahead."

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

2025 saw McLaren claim both the drivers' and constructors' titles. Norris fought hard all season with his team-mate Oscar Piastri for his first drivers' title and a late surge from Red Bull's Max Verstappen posed a serious threat. The battle went down to the season finale in Abu Dhabi and while Verstappen won the race ahead of Piastri and Norris, the latter's third-place finish was enough to claim the title by two points over Verstappen.

But as soon as the celebrations finished and Christmas was over, the team's attention turned to the upcoming 2026 season, which will introduce a wave of new regulations in the series.

McLaren will reveal its 2026 challenger on 9 February from the Bahrain International Circuit.