Lando Norris has been told he is not on Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen's level, despite winning his first Formula 1 world title earlier this month. The McLaren ace edged four-time champion Verstappen and teammate Oscar Piastri to claim his first Drivers' Championship on the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.

However, former F1 racing driver Michael Bleekemolen believes that Norris, 26, has not reached Verstappen's level, citing several incidents that cost the Brit points during the 2025 season. Bleekemolen noted that Norris collided into Piastri while racing for third in Canada, while the duo would then crash again in Austin, Texas.

Asked by RacingNews365 if Norris deserved to be the 2025 champion, Bleekemolen replied: "Not if I compare him to Max Verstappen. In Canada, was it Canada? There, he just drove at the back (of Piastri).

"I definitely think that driving at the back of Piastri, if I compare him to Max, was a dramatic thing. And the crash at the Circuit of the Americas, those are things that just happen. You can go into all that in great detail, but it is what it is.

"Then I'd say: he's not on the level of Hamilton and [Michael] Schumacher." Norris has a long way to go to achieve what Verstappen, Hamilton and Schumacher have done in F1, but by winning his first world title in 2025, he has given himself an opportunity to build his reputation.

Reflecting on winning the world title after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Norris said: "I feel like I have just managed to win it the way I wanted to win it, which was not by being someone I'm not.

"Not trying to be as aggressive as Max or as forceful as other champions might have been in the past, I'm happy. I just won it my way - by being a fair driver, by trying to be an honest driver.

"At times, could I have been more aggressive and got off the brakes and had a few people over? I certainly could have done. Is that the way I want to go racing? Is that me? It's not."

Norris then opened up on the messages of support he received from Hamilton and another ex-world champion in Sebastian Vettel throughout the season. "I've had some great words and great text messages and conversations with some incredible people, people that have won World Championships in different sports, Lewis and others like Seb," Norris told F1.com.

"A lot of people don't know I speak to Seb about things. A lot of these people, [former MotoGP champion Casey] Stoner, who, when I needed it most, sent me that little text message and said, 'think of this, believe in yourself, do this, do that', and just help me along."

Norris believes those comments - along with the wider support from those close to him - played an influential role in him winning the world title by two points from Red Bull's Verstappen. "When you win the championship by two points, I would certainly say having these moments of faith from others around me got me those two points," Norris added.

"And therefore, that's why I've got to thank everyone around me because two points is also what you need."