To the Telegraph: “I liked school, but I never fit in. I was only thinking about racing. Now I bring my friends with me, I pay. It’s worth it”
Silverstone (England) 07/09/2023 – F1 race / photo Imago/Image Sport in the photo: Lando Norris ONLY ITALY
Lando Norris leads the revolution of the new Formula 1, Verstappen’s true rival. He gave a long interview to the Telegraph, talking about the present but also about a more intimate part: the loneliness of the profession. They write that he “is undoubtedly F1’s youngest star; Fast driver, cheeky personality, boy band looks.”
“When I was very young, I loved school. Lots of friends and stuff. But when I started traveling a bit – when I was eight I was already really running – I started missing a bit of school. And I think as soon as you have that thing, at such a young age, it already starts to affect you. And things only get worse. The more you step forward, the more you travel, the more you go away, the longer the weekends, trips to Europe… and that’s the age when most people make childhood friends.some of which last a lifetime.”
“I was also small as a child, so I wasn’t that confident. My whole life was about racing. Whenever I was at school I would watch racing videos and sit alone. Of course I made some friends, but not real friends. In boarding school people stay with their classmates during holidays or weekends. But I’ve never done any of this. I just went to the races, came back, went to school, came home, got on the simulator…”.
“I wasn’t bullied or anything like that. Simply I never integrated. I missed that period of growth. I never went out. I never partied. And then when I was 18, I was almost in Formula 1. And then you’re like, OK, be a good boy, and all that. I don’t think people really understood what I was doing. It’s not like I was in Formula 1 then, and not many people understand what happens before Formula 1. However, yes, I regret it a bit now. Because these days I’m much happier to go out and meet new people.”
Even after rising to the top of motorsport, it took a while for Norris to come out of his shell. He is a teetotaler: “I don’t drink. If I win they’ll have to find me something other than champagne because I can’t stand that stuff.”.
Norris now seems to have found a happy work-life balance. Since 2022 he has lived in Monaco – one of nine F1 drivers to do so, including Verstappen and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton (as well as Monegasque Charles Leclerc). He doesn’t deny moving there for tax reasons, but it makes sense for other reasons too. In any case he rarely stays in the same country for more than a few days. Drive fast cars. He plays a lot of golf. He is a thoroughly modern F1 driver, running an entertainment and clothing business, Quadrant, away from the track. And friends… well, he takes them with him: “I think the only way to stay really close friends with someone is to spend time with them. So that’s what I try to do. I try to fly with them or take them with me to the races. You know, like go to Japan together and spend a week there. Or Texas. I’m also happy to pay to have them all go. It’s worth it because you just want to be with your friends and have fun. And that’s a priceless thing, I think. That’s what you miss more than anything over the years: just hanging out with friends, having good memories and good laughs.”
“It’s a different life. Lonely in many ways. But I’m not the type to complain or to wish I could go back. I’m very, very lucky to be a Formula 1 driver. I would never complain.”
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