From First Contract to World Champion
Lando Norris vividly recalls the overwhelming joy and disbelief he felt when he received his first contract with McLaren. Sitting in the confined space of a paddock truck office, the confirmation that he had reached Formula One left him “very smiley for a long time.” Seven years later, the 26-year-old British driver enters the new season having fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming world champion, wearing an equally radiant smile as he prepares to defend his crown.
A Defining Moment and Turning Point
Securing the championship after a season-long battle that culminated in a dramatic finale marked the defining moment of Norris’s career and arguably a significant turning point.
“I’m always very much in my own head and very thoughtful about myself,”he explains.
“It’s always been about proving it to myself. That’s the thing inside I’ve always had to do. Then when it clicks and I reassure myself, that’s when things go even better. I’ve gained confidence from last year. Just the fact I know I can do it means I know I can do it again. 100%.”
Honesty About Self-Doubt and Mental Health
Norris has consistently been candid about his self-critical nature and admitted to struggling with self-confidence and negativity that contributed to mental health challenges early in his F1 career. He has since addressed these issues, yet even early last year, he still questioned whether he could match the abilities of veterans such as Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso or contemporaries like Max Verstappen and George Russell.
The fact that he competed head-to-head with these elite drivers and emerged victorious gives Norris the conviction to believe he can continue to challenge and beat the best in the sport.
“There’s thoughts that I always had, looking up and thinking how on earth am I going to compete against these kind of guys?”he reflects.
“When you get to F1, I come in and I see Max and Lewis and Fernando and Seb [Vettel]. And you’re like: ‘Damn, am I really at the same level as these guys?’ But did I make myself believe that I can be at the same level as them? Yeah, I certainly gave myself the knowledge and the belief that I can, that I can be just as good as Lewis, Max, whoever it is, Fernando, Seb. To be the best that I’ve ever been in . Last year, when I had that opportunity, like they had those opportunities to have a car that’s quick enough, then I proved it to myself.”
A Season-Long Battle and Triumph
Norris demonstrated his point emphatically during a fierce contest that fluctuated throughout the season against teammate Oscar Piastri, who led for the first two-thirds of the year, and a late resurgence from Verstappen in the Red Bull. The Dutch driver posed a significant threat, finishing just two points behind Norris, who secured the championship with determination in Abu Dhabi.
This achievement marked a coming of age for Norris, who had long promised potential and finally delivered when McLaren produced a championship-winning car from the outset. At the season’s conclusion, he was moved to tears but also wore a beaming smile that has remained ever since. His joy was evident at every pre-season event, including the surreal experience of seeing the No 1 on his car for the first time.
Personal Growth and Unyielding Drive
Norris felt he had proven a point to himself by winning the title, becoming the first Briton to do so since Hamilton’s last championship in 2020, and in the process, he grew both as a person and as a driver.
“There’s attributes which make me who I am and include simply never being pleased until I know I’ve done it right. That’s just who I am,”he says.
“Not letting it have a negative impact on me is the understanding of the negative of that approach but as long as I understand it, learn from it, I know how to improve on it. Not letting it drag me down and put me in a worse mood and then let it affect me or the people around me negatively.”
Overcoming Early Season Struggles
Last year, Norris’s approach was severely tested. He struggled during the first half of the season against Piastri, particularly due to difficulties in feeling the front grip of the car, which affected his qualifying performance. However, his ability to confront and overcome these doubts demonstrated the determination and maturity of a champion, traits admired in drivers such as Hamilton and Michael Schumacher.
“It will still be a work in progress, it’s not like I’m never going to get annoyed at myself and I’m always going to be perfect from that side. But it’s something I worked on a lot last year,”he notes.
“I started working a lot more and from two-thirds of the way through, [there] was certainly a mentality change.”
This change was perhaps most evident at a critical moment when his car failed with seven laps remaining, leaving him alone and frustrated by the North Sea dunes. With Piastri taking victory, Norris found himself 34 points behind with nine races remaining, a deficit that many believed was insurmountable.
“Dealing with that was a good point,”he recalls.
“It wasn’t like I came in, threw my helmet in and then shouted at the team. It was out of my control. I’m sure the team were very upset with themselves that they allowed something to happen like that.
“But I didn’t let that affect the team or myself and how we came back from that was the deal-breaker for the rest of the season. I guess it was a turning point. I don’t know specifically where and what turned things around but just continuing to improve on those things that I have done, continuing to work with the team on the car and get the car in a better window for me. Then when all these little things came together a bit more, that’s when things clicked and it just took the biggest step forward.”
New Regulations and Season Outlook
This year, Formula 1 is undergoing the most extensive regulation changes in its history, including new chassis and engines, meaning all teams are effectively starting anew. The true competitive order remains uncertain ahead of the opening round in Australia next Sunday. McLaren is expected to be competitive but possibly just behind Mercedes and Ferrari, who appeared strongest during pre-season testing.
“To use a football metaphor, the first part of the season will see us playing a bit defensively, trying to exploit the counterattack,”said team principal Andrea Stella, who anticipates aggressive development of the McLaren MCL40 throughout a season marked by continuous learning about the new cars.
Unchanged Motivation and Team Focus
With another challenging season ahead, Norris remains as motivated as ever despite having achieved his dream of winning the championship.
“My motivation has always been to win a championship and to win races. Every race, the target is to win,”he states with conviction.
“My motivation is the team and the people that I’m around. That’s not changed. So my motivation to want to go out and do well and to perform has not changed. The bonus is winning and the main part is making my team happy, so especially for now, nothing changes.”
A Journey Remembered
Norris fondly remembers his first race suit, a gift from the parents of a fellow karter when he began racing. The suit, though old and smelly, was treasured and even slept in, despite the oversized boots.
“It was one of those moments when you get something when you are young and you never want to let go of it,”he says.
“I slept in it even though it was smelly and old. The boots were way, way too big but I would wear it all day at home, it was awesome.”
He still keeps the suit as a memento of the journey that ultimately led him to the world championship and a strong belief that more success lies ahead.
