Why Norris did not lift F1 trophy and when he gets real one | F1 | Sport
Lando Norris will have to wait until he can get his hands on the FIA F1 World Drivers Championship trophy. Norris, 26, celebrated his maiden F1 world title by partying until 6am and eating a late-night McDonalds.
After his third-placed finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was enough to pip McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to the title, he celebrated with champagne and by lifting the trophy. However, what he lifted was not the official FIA trophy. Instead, what he was celebrating with was the award he is given for finishing third. He will have to wait for the FIA’s lavish gala to get his hands on the official gong.
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F1 governing body FIA only award the trophy at their annual awards gala. This year, it will be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Friday, December 12 at around 6pm. He will not be able to hold onto the official trophy permanently.
Instead, he can order a replica of the award, as many drivers before him have done. Organisers of the gala say the event will recognise the title winners, teams and leading figures across motorsport to “recognise exceptional talent and outstanding achievements on and off the track.”
At the event, McLaren will also be awarded the official World Constructors Championship trophy. The main reason why trophies are not presented after the final race day is because FIA’s International Sporting Code affords competitors the opportunity to demand a right of review, which may alter the events of a race and, potentially, the championship itself.
The drivers championship trophy in its current form was designed all the way back in 1995 by Fox Silver. Norris’ name will be engraved onto the copy, which is understood to be made out of silver and gold.
Giuseppe Farina, the 1950 FIA F1 world drivers champion, is the first name on the trophy, while Norris will become the latest entrant. The intention of the design was to allow space for champions across 100 years of the sport.
Similarly, the constructors’ championship also engraves the winners, but instead of detailing the identiities of every team member onto the cup, the logo of the winning team is engraved. Norris will be thrilled when his name is added onto the illustrious list of winners.
