– According to TIME Magazine, Lando Norris is one of the 100 most influential people on the planet in 2026. The reigning Formula 1 world champion and McLaren driver is honored by the American singer Paris Hilton.
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“I met Lando Norris for the first time at Formula 1 in Miami, and I immediately loved his energy,” said the 45-year-old. “He is obviously very talented, but what really sets him apart is how kind, honest, and down-to-earth he is. Even with the pressure of the spotlight, he stays grounded, and that is rare.
Seeing him become world champion in 2025 was honestly fantastic – so well deserved, and such a big moment.”
With winning the Formula 1 World Championship, Norris belongs to a very illustrious group. So far, only 35 people have been crowned world champions in Grand Prix racing.
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“I have seen him with fans at the races, and it is very special,” Hilton continues. “He takes time to connect with everyone, and you can tell it really means something to him. He is so funny, warm, and approachable. I love that he inspires so many people through his hard work to reach the top while still staying true to himself.”
A friendly champion
The champion’s character traits have long been debated. The 27-year-old himself emphasized less than a year ago that you don’t have to be an asshole to become world champion.
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Norris’s role as the “different” world champion is honored by TIME Magazine in the “Innovators” category. Nevertheless, the reigning champion still faces a lot of criticism, especially from those fans who would have preferred Oscar Piastri or Max Verstappen as the winner.
Besides the world champion, the TIME list includes a variety of more or less well-known personalities from pop culture. Not only comparable sports stars like snowboarder Chloe Kim or figure skater Alysa Liu are in focus.
From political figures like Donald Trump or Xi Jinping, to actors like Ben Stiller, to internet personalities like Mr. Beast, all kinds of fields and popularity levels are covered in the list.
Besides Norris, only three other champions in the history of the Grand Prix circus have made it onto the TIME list. In 2024, Verstappen was included as the reigning world champion. In 2020, Lewis Hamilton was included, then contracted with Mercedes.
From a German perspective, Michael Schumacher is to be mentioned, who was counted among the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME Magazine in 2005. This distinction is by no means a given for the modern Formula 1 driver.
