As a die-hard fan, I’m living vicariously through Lando Norris, the McLaren Formula 1 racer, who’s still getting those “is this real life?” moments – even after six years on the track!
While the 25-year-old British driver officially began his F1 career in 2019, it wasn’t until this year that he finally claimed his spot at the top of the podium, winning his first race at the Miami Grand Prix in May. Since then, he’s scored two more wins and is going into the last three races of the 2024 season, including the Las Vegas Grand Prix this weekend, as the runner-up in the Drivers’ Championship (with first place still possible). The McLaren team is also currently leading the Constructors’ Championship.
As a fan, I’ve often pondered about the thrill of crossing the finish line first, feeling the support and cheers from my team. Now, I’m fortunate to be making those dreams a reality, as I shared with The Hollywood Reporter, looking back on this past year. Indeed, I’m living the dream that once seemed only imaginable.
In the days leading up to the Las Vegas GP, Norris opened up to THR about his biggest achievements this year, his reason for speaking publicly about mental health, his love-hate relationship with social media, what his perfect day off looks like and more.
How would you describe your feelings about the achievements you’ve made this season, considering that you’ve been striving towards this, even prior to Formula One?
I’m thrilled that McLaren has accomplished so much. Winning my first Formula 1 race was a dream come true, and it felt great to get that milestone out of the way. Plus, it’s an added bonus that we’re now competing for championships, something we didn’t expect at the start of the year. Initially, after a few races, we thought we still had plenty of work ahead. However, our hard work paid off, and we became the most competitive team this season. But make no mistake, it hasn’t gotten any easier, and in fact, it might be tougher now because I’m up against some of the best drivers who have been in these high-pressure situations for much longer than we have.
“Since you joined Formula One racing after Netflix’s Drive to Survive was released, it’s clear the sport attracted a new audience. But since you were already a fan before this show, have there been moments when you wished you could have raced during those earlier times in F1 history?
As a passionate fan, I’ve always pondered about the past, curious to understand how things unfolded in various eras – be it 30, 10, or even 5 years ago. The world seems to have transformed significantly during those periods, making it intriguing to grasp the evolution and change that took place. However, living in the present moment often makes us oblivious to these transformations. Looking back though, I can’t help but marvel at how drastically things have evolved.
When you’re inside the car and the outside noise fades away, leaving just the sounds within, what thoughts fill your mind at that instant? Also, could you share what you enjoy the most about the real-time competition aspect of your profession?
One aspect is the feeling of forgetting everything during a race. Despite having team members communicating with you, it can still feel quite isolated due to being inside the race car. The experience becomes even more exciting when there’s pressure and nerves, which are amplified by adrenaline. While test sessions can be fun, they don’t have the same level of excitement as qualifying or racing because of the added stress and adrenaline. This difference makes it more enjoyable. I often overthink things, so when I’m on the track, my mind tends to wander away from those thoughts, which is something I appreciate. It allows me to enter a subconscious state of driving without excessive thinking.
Will you too have a personal grandstand, known as Landostand, at next year’s British Grand Prix, which sold out in mere minutes upon release? Would your younger self find it hard to believe such an accomplishment?
The bit that I always remind myself of is when I was watching Formula 1 when I was a kid and you’re seeing it on TV, seeing all the [Lewis] Hamilton fans or the [Fernando] Alonso fans or Jenson [Button], [Sebastian] Vettel, like watching that, that’s what I always kind of dreamed of and wanted to live that moment. But now I am living that moment and I think that’s something that is hard to picture and imagine and to kind of compare, but that is I’m now living the moment that I wanted to. … It’s very special.
Why did you decide to openly discuss your mental health, something that can feel exposed at times, and what made this topic significant enough for you to share it?
In terms of my personal experiences, whether it’s related to driving or other matters such as mental health, I’ve always been open about expressing my feelings honestly. I share my struggles, my improvements, my good days, and my bad days, both on the track and off it. I believe in being truthful about my emotions because there are many people who aren’t, and I feel content sharing my beliefs.
Given the constant glare of the public eye on various aspects of your life, how do you manage to strike a balance between your private and public existence?
Managing both public and private life can be quite challenging, especially with the amount of information that’s easily accessible online these days. It’s become more common for private aspects to spill into the public sphere on social media. Recently, I’ve been making a conscious effort to establish a clearer boundary between my personal and professional life. In the past five years, I was quite active on platforms like Instagram, Twitch, and streaming services, but now I value my privacy more.
When you’re using social media, a simple comment from you can spark a phenomenon known as “going viral” and excite fans immensely. For instance, your comment on Tate McRae’s video led many to believe you were set to make an appearance in her “2 hands” music video. Do you find this aspect of social media entertaining?
I love seeing what people come up with. And people kind of think they know things when they often have absolutely zero idea. Sometimes you’re just like, how the hell have you come up with something like that, there’s no truth to it. But yeah, I have a bit of fun every now and then [laughs]. It’s nice to try and make people believe some things even when it couldn’t be more far from the truth. I mean, you get to meet a lot of people. I’ve never met her [laughs], but I get to meet a lot of cool people from different sports and different backgrounds and all those things. That’s kind of one of the perks of doing what I do. But it’s just a bit of fun at the end of the day and you make the fans have a little frenzy for a couple of weeks and they start coming up with all these conspiracies and headlines and things like that, at the end of the day, it was just one comment that I type on a keyboard and people go nuts over it, but that’s social media nowadays.
What does your perfect day off look like?
I’ve got two preferences in my routine: solitude and socializing. While my life is usually buzzing with people, I’m not your typical extrovert [laughs]. I prefer quieter activities over talking a lot or participating in large gatherings. Instead, I cherish the chance to unwind alone, such as lounging in bed and watching shows on TV or Netflix. It’s a simple pleasure that offers a refreshing change from my bustling daily life.
What significant obstacle have you managed to conquer that led you to your current position?
One way of rephrasing the statement is:
Looking ahead a bit, where would you like to see yourself in five years?
In five years’ time, I have no idea where Formula 1 might be or what the vehicles will look like. The world is currently undergoing rapid changes, which makes it difficult to predict the future. However, I continue to enjoy my job and am still committed to Formula 1 for now. At some point though, I may feel the urge to try something new, whether that’s within or outside of Formula 1. Life is short, so I’ll follow my passions wherever they lead me. My hope is to still be a part of Formula 1 and to become a champion before then.
If you had to describe what makes Lando Norris, Lando Norris, what would you say?
I constantly aim to seize joy in each moment, whether it’s on the race track or off, being part of F1. I believe this is what helps me connect with many drivers and build friendships, as I simply appreciate and enjoy the experiences. I don’t feel compelled to have adversaries or confrontations. Naturally, that’s my perspective; some might argue that having enemies is necessary or that friendship isn’t possible. However, I choose to live life on my terms, prioritizing joy and fun. There’s no one ‘right’ way, but this is what I prefer for myself.
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2024-11-22 18:55