Lando Norris,Formula 1’s self-proclaimed “nice guy”,has been crowned world champion, leaving die-hard fans and headline writers scrambling to find a new angle. Gone are the days when ruthless aggression and cold calculation were the only ticket to the top,at least, that’s the story being sold by Norris’s emotional cheerleaders up and down the paddock.

Carlos Sainz, now with Williams after his McLaren stint, wasted no time jumping on the bandwagon. “He’s always been extremely quick,” Sainz gushed to any microphone in sight, eager to remind the world he “knew all along” about Norris’s hidden talents. But it’s not just about speed,oh no. Sainz also praised Norris’s “authenticity” and mental health advocacy, painting the rookie-turned-champ as some kind of F1 saint who’s “proven to everyone you can be world champion being a nice guy.”

Meanwhile, the numbers don’t lie: Norris clinched his first-ever title with a modest third-place finish in Abu Dhabi, just barely edging out Max Verstappen by two points. Yes, the kid from Bristol is now the 11th Brit to claim the drivers’ crown,and the youngest since Lewis Hamilton,but let’s not forget: this is McLaren’s first taste of glory in over a decade, and they’re milking it for all it’s worth.

Speaking of Hamilton, who’s now at Ferrari and still chasing headlines, the seven-time champ swooped in to congratulate his fellow Brit. “Winning your first world championship is truly special,” Hamilton said, before taking a not-so-subtle shot at the rest of the world: “UK continues to pump out great drivers.” Cheers, Lewis.

Even dethroned king Max Verstappen played along, offering his congratulations through gritted teeth. “He has had a very good season,” Verstappen admitted. “Winning your first is always super emotional.” But make no mistake,Max is already plotting his comeback.

Back at McLaren, Norris’s teammate Oscar Piastri, who was actually his closest challenger (not that anyone’s talking about it), put on a brave face. “There are plenty of years to come of intense weekends and tight battles,” Piastri said, trying to ignore the fact that all eyes were on the other side of the garage.

Sky Sports’ own Nico Rosberg couldn’t resist piling on the praise, spinning Norris’s “vulnerability” and time off social media into a heartwarming narrative. “A perfect ending to the season,” Rosberg declared, crowning Norris as “the most popular driver out there.” Who needs ruthless focus when you can win with relatability?

So, there you have it: Lando Norris, the media’s new golden boy, has apparently proved you can be world champion without ever breaking a sweat,or a frown. The F1 establishment is falling over itself to celebrate “nice guys” finishing first, but one has to wonder: is this the dawn of a new era, or just a convenient story for the cameras? Either way, the headlines are written, the tributes are flowing, and the Norris hype train has left the station.