British, humble, humorous, critical, a DJ, wealthy, and full of self-deprecation: Lando Norris embodies all these traits. He’s the new darling of British fans and their beacon of hope in these thrilling racing days. “This is the era of Lando.”
Contrary to what many have speculated over the years, it seems that not Charles Leclerc, but Lando Norris, will be the main challenger to Max Verstappen in the coming years. Earlier this year in Miami, the Brit joined the exclusive club of Grand Prix winners in Formula 1, and he’s hungry for more, including the ultimate prize: the world title.
Born in Bristol on November 13, 1999, Norris has quickly become one of the most popular Formula 1 drivers of this era. He’s witty, a heartthrob, and has nearly nine million followers on Instagram. “I love him,” says Davide Valsecchi, an Italian former driver and analyst for F1TV at the Red Bull Ring. “Lando has charisma, he’s funny, and he’s a really nice guy.”
Grounded
Will Buxton believes that Norris remains ‘firmly grounded’, especially for someone who grew up in wealth. After all, complacency and laziness can sometimes lurk in such circumstances. “Let’s be honest: Lando hasn’t led the same life as us,” Buxton says. “Drivers are complex characters. From the age of five, they’re told they’re the best in the world. These guys grow up in a bizarre, highly competitive bubble. But it’s not the real world. Yet Lando doesn’t walk around with his nose in the air, as if he’s better than others. You can talk to him about anything, he’s a very ordinary young man.”
Characteristics of a Rising Star
Lando Norris, a typical Brit, is outwardly confident but harbors deep-seated fears, according to Will Buxton. He’s a global citizen, half Belgian, full of self-deprecation and humor. He’s the new darling of the Brits. “Lando is the rising star: young and exciting. Lewis Hamilton has a place in the hearts of British fans, and that will always be the case. But there’s a new sheriff in town. George Russell would like to be that person, but realistically, it’s Lando. He has so much charm… And the Brits love an underdog. George is in a Mercedes, McLaren is a British team that has had hard times. The story of a British driver bringing a British team back to the top is, of course, a fantastic one,” Buxton explains.
“Lando,” Buxton continues, “is a guy living his dream and now seeing the results. This allows him, I believe, to express himself more freely. The previous years and the beginning of this season were frustrating for him. That cut through his personality. Especially during Covid and the time after, he struggled with himself, fell into a negative spiral. That’s when he sought help from a psychologist. Since his victory in Miami (converted to UST), Lando has been liberated, more himself. At the same time, he is intensely critical and sometimes very hard on himself.”
Popularity and Self-Criticism
Davide Valsecchi appreciates Norris’s self-criticism. The Italian asserts that one can never be too critical of oneself. “You often hear drivers complaining that the car isn’t good enough, or whatever. They always have excuses.” Norris does not belong to that category, concludes Valsecchi. “Lando blames himself. And that’s another reason why I love him so much and why I think he’s so popular worldwide. He knows that you can’t win every race in this sport, sometimes you get beaten.”
“I don’t want to suggest that Lando might be too intelligent for his sport because he thinks so deeply about everything. He’s now in a position where he can win, which he hasn’t had for a long time,” Buxton realizes. “This is the era of Lando.” Valsecchi: “Looking at the field now, I think Lando will be the next world champion after Max Verstappen. That’s the feeling I have at least. He is by far the best driver this year after Max, makes few mistakes. Yes, everyone says: but Lando made a mistake at the start in Spain that cost him the victory. A mistake, I think? Come on: how can you call it a mistake when he pushes Max, the world champion, into the grass? He gets applause from me for that. Norris drives these days in the same aggressive way as Max. Now that he has a competitive car and can fight for victories, he fights for them. Miami (converted to UST) has given him extra confidence.”
However, Norris remains, in Buxton’s opinion, occasionally ‘too critical’ of himself. Take Spain and the sprint race in Austria, where he said he ‘left the door open like an amateur’ and was visibly upset. “Carlos Sainz and his father have a good mantra: ‘Whether something is good or not, you turn the page.’ But with Lando,” Buxton knows, “it just takes a little longer.”
