Lando Norris

Lando Norris was born on 13 November 1999 in Bristol UK and is a Belgian-British racing driver competing in Formula One. His British father, Adam Norris is one of the richest persons in the UK. His mother, Cisca (nee Wauman) is a Belgian. Norris holds both British and Belgian citizenships and is currently racing with McLaren under the British flag. Norris resides in Woking, close to the McLaren headquarters.

Norris won the MSA Formula championship in 2015. In 2016, he won the Toyota Racing Series, the Eurocup Formula 2.0 and the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup receiving the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award. He was a member of the McLaren Young Driver Programme and won the 2017 FIA Formula 3European Championship.

Lando Norris’ Career Before Formula 1

Lando Norris showed interested in motorcycle racing at an early age but later turned to four-wheel racing. He started karting at the age of seven and claimed pole position in the first National event he participated in. He won the 2013 World Karting Championship in Bahrain, the WSK Euro Series, the CIK-FIA European and the CIK-FIA Supercup championships. He won the CIK-FIA KF World Championship becoming the youngest world championship winner in karting.

In 2014, Norris contested in the Ginetta Junior Championship, making his first foray into motorcar racing. He finished third in the championship and won the Rookie Cup. With Carlin Motorsport, Norris participated in the MSA Formula Series winning the series with 8 wins, 14 podium places and 10 pole positions. In his infrequent appearances in ADAC Formula 4 Championship, Norris earned six podium positions from eight starts.

In 2016 Norris chose to compete for M2 Competition in the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand. Norris won the championship after winning six races including the New Zealand Grand Prix. Driving for Josef Kaufmann Racing, he contested in the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup and the Formula Renault 2.0 NEC series, finishing first in both the series.

Norris drove for Carlin Motorsport in the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship finishing eighth on a part-time schedule. He also raced in the final round of the Europen Formula 3 Championship with Carlin. In the Macau Grand Prix, Norris finished 11th.

Norris raced for Carlin Motorsport in the 2017 European Formula 3 Championship winning the championship in the first three races at the Hockenheimring finale. He left the runner-up Joel Ericsson trailing by 57 points. Norris raced for Carlin in the 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2018 and finished second behind compatriot George Russell.

Lando Norris’ Career In Formula 1

McLaren (2019 – present)

Lando Norris signed a contract to race with the McLaren F1 Team for the 2019 Formula One season. He qualified and finished 12th in the season-opening race in Australia. Norris scored his first Formula One World Championship points in the next race in Bahrain. He displayed good driving acumen to finish 6th in the race.

In the Chinese Grand Prix Norris suffered damage to his car from a collision. He was to later retire from the race because of the damage. Two races later. Norris was forced to retire in Spain after a collision with Lance Stroll. He finished 8th in Azerbaijan only to retire in Canada after a suspension failure caused a brake fire.

Hydraulic Problems forced Norris to drop from a possible 7th place finish to 10th in the French Grand Prix. A penalty to Daniel Ricciardo later classified Norris as the ninth finisher in the race. In the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, he finished 6th while in Germany he was forced to start from the last place because of an engine penalty, He was to later retire due to power failure.

Norris finished 9th in Hungary after starting 7th on the grid, adding to his points tally. In Belgium, he was lined up for the best finish of his Formula One career having worked up his way from the 11th starting position to the 5th. Norris suffer a power failure in the last lap and was eventually placed 11th on the race finishers roll.

He finished 10th, 7th and 8th consecutively in Italy, Singapore and Japan respectively, scoring valuable points in the championship. In Japan, he was running in the fifth palace in the beginning of the race before Alexander Albon collided with him. The resultant damage to the car floor led to Norris’ car slowing down, he eventually finished 11th in the race.

Norris was placed seventh in Mexico when he made a pit stop. Norris stopped at the end of the pit exit after he realised that a wheel was wrongly fitted. His car had to be pushed back to the pits and the wheel fitted correctly. Norris had spent almost two minutes in the pits and he later withdrew from the race when he realised that he was far behind the other drivers.

In the USA, Brazil and Abu Dhabi, the last three rounds of the season, Norris finished 7th, 8th and 8th respectively. He finished the 2019 Formula One season with 11 points finishes and no podium positions. With 49 points, Norris was classified 11th in the World Drivers’ Championship in his debut season.

2020

Norris had already signed a deal to continue racing for McLaren for 2020 through till the 2022 season. Little did anyone foresee the 2020 season being postponed and rescheduled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the season-opener, the Austrian Grand Prix, Norris was promoted from 4th to 3rd on the grid after Lewis Hamilton attracted a grid penalty. Lewis Hamilton was awarded a five-second penalty in the race for a collision with Alexander Albon. If Norris finished the race within five seconds of Lewis Hamilton, a podium position was his for the taking.

He finished fourth in the race but had set the fastest lap finishing 4.802 seconds behind Hamilton. Norris was promoted to 3rd place and won the first podium position of his career in the final lap of the race. That made Norris the third-youngest driver to take podium position in the history of Formula One.

Norris qualified sixth in the Styrian Grand Prix but was penalised three grid places for an incident in free practice. He passed Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll and Sergio Pérez in the final two laps of the race to finish fifth in the race. He was third place in the drivers’ championship standings.

After finishing fourth in the Italian Grand Prix, Norris finished 6th in the Tuscan Grand Prix. He failed to gather any points in the Russian and the Eifel Grands Prix finishing 15th in Russia and retiring at the Eifel Grand Prix. In Portugal, a forced pit stop due to a collision with Lance Stroll and subsequent tyre puncture caused Norris to finish 13th.

After the incident with Lance Stroll, Norris’s comment that Stroll “doesn’t seem to learn” and his downplaying of Lewis Hamilton’s achievements drew widespread criticism. Norris later tendered an apology to Stroll and personally apologised to Hamilton. In the next three races, Norris finished without scoring any points.

He finished eighth in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, a track where there are few chances for overtaking. On a wet track in the Turkish Grand Prix Norris had to start from the fourteenth place on the grid after a five-place penalty. He recovered to record the fastest lap of the race and finished in the eighth position.

In the tussle for the third place in the World Championship, Norris finished a creditable fourth in the Bahrain Grand Prix, scoring valuable points. After a disappointing qualifying round in the Sakhir Grand Prix, the McLaren team decided to fit Norris’ car with a new engine. The ensuing penalty caused Norris to start from the back of the grid.

In Abu Dhabi, Norris qualified fourth and finished the race in the fifth position. His teammate, Carlos Sainz Jr. finished 6th helping McLaren finish the season third in the World Constructors’ Championship. Lando Norris finished the World Drivers’ Championship in 9th place while Sainz finished in 6th place.

2021

Lando Norris’s 2021 Formula 1 season with McLaren was a standout year, marking his emergence as one of the sport’s brightest talents. In his third season with McLaren, Norris continued to impress with his skill, consistency, and maturity, contributing significantly to the team’s competitive performance throughout the year.

Team and Expectations: McLaren entered the 2021 season with high hopes, building on their upward trajectory from previous years. The team aimed to solidify its position in the constructors’ championship and challenge for podiums more consistently. Norris, alongside new teammate Daniel Ricciardo, was expected to play a crucial role in achieving these objectives.

Season Overview: Norris’s 2021 campaign was characterized by strong performances, including multiple podium finishes and consistent points-scoring results. His ability to extract the maximum from the car, coupled with strategic brilliance from the team, saw McLaren as a regular contender at the sharp end of the midfield.

Key Highlights and Results:

• Imola Grand Prix: Norris secured his first podium of the season with a third-place finish in challenging conditions, showcasing his racecraft and composure.
• Monaco Grand Prix: Another highlight was Norris’s podium finish in Monaco, a testament to his skill in one of the calendar’s most demanding races.
• Austrian Grand Prix: Norris achieved his best qualifying result of the season, starting second. He went on to finish the race in third place, underlining his and McLaren’s pace.
• Russian Grand Prix: In a dramatic race affected by changing weather conditions, Norris claimed his first pole position in Formula 1. He led a significant portion of the race before a late switch to wet tires saw him finish outside the podium positions, in a heartbreakingly close battle for his first win.

Challenges:

• Consistency and Development: While Norris showed exceptional talent and speed, the challenge for him and McLaren was maintaining consistency and keeping pace with the development of their rivals, particularly in the tightly contested midfield.
• Learning from Setbacks: The Russian Grand Prix was a particular learning moment for Norris, demonstrating the fine margins between success and disappointment in Formula 1. His response to such setbacks highlighted his growth as a driver and his potential for future success.

Season Conclusion:

• Overall Performance: Norris’s 2021 season was a breakthrough, with the young Briton establishing himself as a future star of the sport. His performances earned him widespread acclaim, both within and outside the McLaren team.
• Contribution to the Team: Norris was instrumental in McLaren’s strong showing in the Constructors’ Championship, helping the team to secure fourth place. His partnership with Ricciardo developed positively, with Norris often leading the team’s charge.
• Future Prospects: Ending the season, Norris’s confidence and ability were at an all-time high. With McLaren’s continued progress and Norris’s evident talent, there were high expectations for further success and possibly a future championship challenge.

Lando Norris’s 2021 season was a defining chapter in his young Formula 1 career, marked by impressive performances, significant personal growth, and the promise of even greater achievements in the future.

2022

Lando Norris’s 2022 Formula 1 season with McLaren represented another step forward in his burgeoning career, despite the challenges posed by a highly competitive field and the introduction of new technical regulations. The young British driver continued to demonstrate his talent, consistency, and ability to extract performance from his car, solidifying his reputation as one of the sport’s rising stars.

Team and Expectations: McLaren entered the 2022 season with the ambition of building on their previous successes and closing the gap to the front-running teams. With the sport undergoing significant changes due to new technical regulations aimed at improving racing, there were opportunities and challenges for all teams, including McLaren.

Season Overview: The 2022 season saw Norris often outperforming the McLaren MCL36, particularly in situations where the car’s performance was not at the level of the top teams. His ability to compete at the front, even in a car that was not always capable of doing so, was a testament to his skill and determination.

Key Highlights and Results:

• Imola Grand Prix: Norris secured a podium finish early in the season, showcasing his ability to capitalize on opportunities and deliver strong results in mixed conditions.
• Monaco Grand Prix: In a challenging race characterized by strategy and precision, Norris again demonstrated his prowess, scoring valuable points for the team.
• Austrian Grand Prix: Norris’s performance in Austria was particularly notable, with strong qualifying and race pace that allowed him to fight with the front-runners and secure another impressive finish.

Challenges:

• Adapting to the MCL36: The new technical regulations presented a challenge for McLaren and Norris, with the team working throughout the season to understand and improve the car’s performance. Norris played a crucial role in this development process, providing feedback and working closely with the engineering team.
• Consistency and Development Race: Maintaining consistency in performance across different circuits and conditions was a challenge for McLaren in 2022. The development race among the teams was intense, with McLaren striving to keep pace with their rivals in the midfield and beyond.

Season Conclusion:

• Overall Performance: Norris’s 2022 season was marked by moments of brilliance and a demonstration of his growing maturity and skill as a Formula 1 driver. His performances were a bright spot in a challenging year for McLaren, as the team navigated the complexities of the new regulations.
• Contribution to the Team: Norris’s role within McLaren continued to grow, with his input into the car’s development and his leadership on track proving invaluable. His relationship with teammate Daniel Ricciardo remained positive, with both drivers pushing each other to improve.
• Future Prospects: Ending the season, Norris was seen as a key asset for McLaren’s future ambitions. With his contract extension securing his place at the team, the focus was on continuing to build and improve together, with hopes of challenging more consistently at the front of the grid in the coming years.

Lando Norris’s 2022 season underscored his status as one of Formula 1’s most talented and promising drivers. Despite the ups and downs of a transitional year for McLaren, Norris’s performances provided optimism for the team’s future and his potential to achieve even greater success in the sport.

2023

Lando Norris’s 2023 Formula 1 season with McLaren, alongside new teammate Oscar Piastri, was a testament to his resilience, skill, and determination under challenging circumstances. The season was marked by a mix of highs and lows, showcasing Norris’s ability to navigate adversity and capitalize on opportunities.

Season Overview:

• The season began with a setback for McLaren, as both cars faced reliability issues at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Norris, in particular, had to make six pit stops to manage the problem, finishing seventeenth.
• Norris experienced a rare Q1 elimination at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to a collision with the wall, followed by another seventeenth-place finish after sustaining damage from debris.
• The Australian Grand Prix was a turning point for McLaren, with Norris finishing sixth after starting thirteenth, marking the team’s first points of the season.

Key Moments:

• Miami Grand Prix: Another Q1 knockout and contact at the start resulted in a finish outside the points for Norris.
• Spanish Grand Prix: Norris qualified third but dropped to the back after first-lap contact with Lewis Hamilton. Despite this, he showcased his overtaking skills and racecraft.
• Canadian Grand Prix: Norris was penalized for “unsportsmanlike behaviour,” highlighting the competitive tensions and the fine margins in Formula 1.
• Austrian Grand Prix: Significant upgrades to the MCL60 saw Norris qualify fourth and finish fourth in the race, demonstrating the potential of the car and Norris’s ability to extract its performance.
• British Grand Prix: A second-place finish for Norris, leading the race for four laps, underscored his and McLaren’s progress, marking a memorable moment for the team and Norris at Silverstone.
• Hungarian Grand Prix: Back-to-back podiums for Norris, finishing second, highlighted his consistency and competitiveness at the sharp end of the grid.
• Singapore to United States Grands Prix: A series of strong performances, including four consecutive podiums, showcased Norris’s ability to compete with the front-runners and maintain a high level of performance across diverse conditions.

Challenges:

• Early-season reliability issues and incidents put Norris and McLaren on the back foot, challenging their ability to compete consistently at the front.
• Strategic decisions, such as tire changes during changing conditions, were critical moments that tested Norris and the team’s adaptability and decision-making.

Season Conclusion:

• Norris ended the season sixth in the Drivers’ Championship, scoring 205 points, just one point shy of fourth place. His performance relative to rookie teammate Piastri, who scored 97 points, and his ability to lead the team’s challenge were notable.
• Despite being outqualified by Alonso in the majority of races, Norris’s race performances, strategic moves, and ability to secure points underlined his status as one of the sport’s leading drivers.

Lando Norris’s 2023 season was characterized by growth, overcoming adversity, and cementing his position as a key figure within McLaren and a formidable competitor in Formula 1. His performances throughout the year, marked by strategic brilliance and driving excellence, set the stage for continued success in the future.

Is Lando Norris named after Star Wars?

No, Lando Norris was not named after the Star Wars character Lando Calrissian. Contrary to popular belief, his name does not have a connection to the film series. As per Norris himself, it was a name his parents liked.

How old was Lando Norris when he started F1?

Lando Norris was 19 years old when he started in Formula 1. He was born on November 13, 1999, and made his F1 debut with McLaren at the Australian Grand Prix on March 17, 2019.

Who is Lando Norris mother?

Lando Norris’s mother is Cisca Norris. She has been mentioned in various media outlets and interviews in relation to her son’s career in Formula 1. The Norris family, including Lando’s parents, have been supportive of his racing career from a young age, helping him to progress through the ranks of motorsport to reach Formula 1.

What football team does Lando Norris support?

Lando Norris supports Bristol City Football Club. He has been a long-time supporter of the team, having been born in Bristol, Great Britain.

Has Lando Norris ever won a race?

Lando Norris is indeed a Formula 1 race winner, taking victory at the 2024 Miami Grand Prix, where he beat home Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc for his maiden win in F1.

How much does Lando Norris make?

As of the 2023 Formula 1 season, Lando Norris’s salary was reported to be around $20 million, which includes his base salary plus potential bonuses. However, F1 driver salaries can vary based on performance, contract negotiations, and other factors, so this figure may change in the future.

Does Lando Norris like Lewis Hamilton?

Lando Norris has expressed respect and admiration for Lewis Hamilton. In various interviews and comments, Norris has recognized Hamilton’s success and achievements in Formula 1, indicating a positive professional relationship between the two British drivers.

Is Flo Norris related to Lando Norris?

Yes, Flo Norris is related to Lando Norris; she is his younger sister. Flo Norris is also an accomplished equestrian, competing in showjumping events.

What nationality is Lando Norris?

Lando Norris is British. He was born in Bristol, England, and holds British nationality.

How long has Lando Norris been driving in F1?

Lando Norris has been driving in Formula 1 since the start of the 2019 season. As of the beginning of the 2024 season, he has been competing in F1 for five seasons.

Does Lando Norris have an exit clause in his contract?

Lando Norris has confirmed that his contract with McLaren contains “zero exit clauses.” This was also stated by McLaren CEO Zak Brown, emphasizing that Norris is committed to the team and cannot leave before his contract expires unless both parties agree to a termination.