Behind the athlete: a moment for the mothers

Lando Norris ended the 2025 Formula 1 season on top, claiming his maiden drivers’ title in the sport, and it was his mother that stood out in the crowd. The parents of racing drivers are often not given their flowers for the dedication and sacrifice that goes into raising a winner, and this weekend reminded fans just how big a labour of love it is.

Cisca Wauman, Norris’ mum, has always been beloved by fans for her radiant presence in the F1 paddock, standing out in her son’s trademark neon colours, and this weekend, we saw just how much it truly means to be the mother of a newly crowned champion. She was one of the few people shown on the broadcast during the race, disappearing more and more behind a wall each time she appeared as the final laps drew in and the nerves heightened. When her son crossed the line, she was waiting with open arms, and you could see the emotional release and utter adoration shine through. 

Lando Norris hugs mum, Cisca Wauman, after winning the Formula 1 Drivers' World Champion at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Photo Credit: BBC Sport

Post-race, Cisca spoke to the F1 media, detailing just how much has gone into moulding Lando into not only a top athlete, but now a champion. 

When asked how she was feeling as the adrenaline coursed through the entire paddock, she said: “Emotionally drained, but very happy. Very happy for the family, for the team, McLaren, the fans, because they’ve been always there.”

As most racing drivers are, Lando was away from home for most of his childhood, and his dad accompanied him to races while his mum looked after his siblings. Cisca also opened up about the reality of that, and how challenging it can be as a mother to not be there. 

“When Lando was seven, he started karting; by the time he was eight he was competing with his brother, Ollie. It took the two boys in one direction and the two girls I have in the other direction,” she told F1 media. 

“So, I missed Lando and Ollie, seeing them growing up as kids. Suddenly playing with a tractor naked in the garden was done, and I missed that. But this is amazing, this is fantastic.” 

It was extremely moving to witness Cisca’s reaction to her son’s win, and across the race weekend, we saw in real time how much pressure and tension the family of a driver can experience. A moment between Cisca and Norris’ teammate, Oscar Piastri, also captivated fans, as she quickly pulled him into a hug without hesitation after the race. It was an extremely human moment of respect and nurturing that we don’t often get to see amidst the brutality of Formula 1. 

Cisca Wauman, Lando Norris' mother, hugging Oscar Piastri, Norris' teammate. Photo credit: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Piastri was also met by the open arms of his own mother, Nicole Piastri, another grid mum adored by the fans (and Yuki Tsunoda), and his sisters. It was another notable moment that reminds us just how important these women are in creating and nurturing the sportspeople that we watch hurtling around at 180mph, and just how essential their support is. 

Mothers in motorsport often speak of the fear of sending their children out onto the track given the nature of the sport. Earlier this season at the Brazilian Grand Prix, we saw the impact it can have when it goes wrong, as Gabriel Bortoleto suffered a massive crash while his mother’s reaction was broadcast internationally. Max Verstappen’s mother, Sophie Kumpen, revealed that she lights a candle before every race Max competes in, taking her protective convictions seriously despite being a racing driver herself. She is another mother that had to watch her son grow up from afar, and like Cisca - and all the mothers who attend races - you can see just how much it means every time her child competes. 

So, a round of applause for these women, the ones that sacrifice their time in the rain at karting tracks, the ones that have to wait for a break in the calendar to see their children, the ones that spent years bending over backwards with the hope that one day their child would be a champion, and the ones that did it all out of nothing but love. Their strength and support is an inspiration to us all.