Lando Norris is fast becoming one of Formula 1’s most popular drivers, which is no surprise given the speed of the McLaren car allowed him to challenge Max Verstappen this year. However, in a cheerful interview with the championship’s official website, it wasn’t all about the racing…
Q: Can you describe yourself in three words somehow?
Lando Norris: Oh, I’m bad at this… Let’s put it this way: calm, cheerful, inattentive.
Q: How did you fall in love with Formula 1? How did it all start?
Lando Norris: In general I liked racing and driving. But I can’t say that I fell in love with Formula 1 first and then decided to give it a try. When I was six or seven years old I got interested in cars and I liked driving fast. I liked that when you’re driving you’re alone with the car.
F1 is the pinnacle of everything, but first I fell in love with karting, and then I gradually got into Formula 1.
Q: Where and when did you first drive in your life?
Lando Norris: The first thing I started riding was a lawn mower. I rode it every day as a kid and mowed the lawns at our house.
Question: Since when did you pass the driving license exam?
Lando Norris: From the first. I had no problems with this. Although now I do my best to avoid situations where I have to prove that I can parallel park! (laughs)
Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t involved in cyber racing? Golf?
Lando Norris: What kind of cyber racing?! After the end of the Covid-19 pandemic I won’t participate in it at all.
Q: If you had to put together a golf team of Formula 1 drivers, who would you call?
Lando Norris: I think Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen. But we wouldn’t give him a putter, he would just create the atmosphere, drive the golf cart, serve drinks and stuff. (laughs) Lance Stroll is also a very good golfer. I don’t think worse than Carlos.
Q: Good choice! Who is your best friend in the paddock?
Lando Norris: It’s hard to say. Maybe of the people I’ve worked with, I communicate the most with Carlos – he was my teammate at McLaren. And of those I haven’t worked with, I have the best relationship with Max. We met many years ago, probably in 2012 or 2013, and we can say that we grew up together. He and I have never been partners, but we have a great relationship.
Q: If you were to organize your dream team, who would you invite? Which riders would compete for it, and who would you trust to be the leader?
Lando Norris: I like the way Zak Brown runs McLaren Racing, even though he’s a big boss and our race team manager is Andrea Stella, but Zach is a great boss and he plays golf too.
As for the drivers, I would invite Jackie Stewart, and with a team like that he would be my partner. I’ve wanted to race with him for a long time.
Q: And if you could put together a musical group from the racers, who would you invite, and what would the group be called?
Lando Norris: I don’t even know which of the racers have musical instruments!
Q: What about Charles Leclerc, who plays keyboards?
Lando Norris: Yes, exactly! You could also invite Daniel Ricciardo. He listens to music all the time and is good at it. We will also invite Yuki Tsunoda – he likes to sing karaoke, I’ve heard him a few times. He could be our frontman. How did I forget Lewis? He sings too!
Generally, Lewis and Yuki will be the vocalists, Charles will play the keys, I will be on drums and we will come up with something for Daniel. And you should ask him for the name. He will definitely offer something he likes, for example “Schnitzels”! (laughs)
Q: What was the best advice you ever heard?
Lando Norris: “The most important thing is that you have fun!” My answer may not sound original, but life is too short to deny yourself fun.
Q: If you had the chance to try yourself in another profession for a day, what would you choose?
Lando Norris: I would become a DJ. Or a designer who designs racing helmets.
Q: What advice would you give aspiring racers?
Lando Norris: I would say: “Keep pushing!” I wouldn’t say believe in yourself and all that, because that’s nonsense. For example, I didn’t believe I would get into Formula 1, but here I am! Hard work is more important than just believing in yourself. This is also useful, but not necessary. Personally, I worked hard to become a Formula 1 driver, even though I didn’t believe I would get there.
Q: Finally, what will you be doing in five years?
Lando Norris: I don’t know, maybe I’ll still compete in Formula 1. Although I’m not sure, to be honest! Just wait and see.
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
