‘More confident’ Lando Norris wants to win F1 drivers’ championship and also be a ‘good guy’
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McLaren's Lando Norris, speaking to ST at Ralph Lauren Fragrances’ Polo Red Racing pop-up event at Plaza Singapura, wants to be remembered as a "good guy".
ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
Follow topic:
- F1 drivers' championship-chasing Lando Norris feels he is more confident than he was when he finished second in 2024.
- The 25-year-old Briton has matured from a party animal to one that takes care of every aspect of his life to optimise racing performance.
- Despite pressure to prioritise winning, Norris values sportsmanship and being a respected person "on and off the track" in the long term.
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SINGAPORE – For a Formula One driver used to keeping his nerve in intense races amid noise levels of more than 140 decibels, McLaren’s Lando Norris was surprisingly tongue-tied when greeted by more than 1,000 shrieking fans at Plaza Singapura’s atrium on Sept 30.
But he regained his poise fast enough in front of his adoring supporters – who came with cameras, phones, markers and handmade signs, one reading “Lando we skipped school to see you” – as well as curious passers-by who clung on to the glass parapets on all six upper levels.
The 25-year-old Briton, who was making an appearance at Ralph Lauren Fragrances’ Polo Red Racing pop-up event ahead of the Oct 3-5 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, eventually rattled out, “passionate, fast and confident” when asked to describe the American brand’s latest fragrance.
Chasing his first F1 drivers’ championship after finishing second to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in 2024, Norris used similar adjectives on himself when asked about his biggest personal shift as he transitions from podium-pusher to championship contender.
He told The Straits Times: “I definitely have more confidence now than I had last year. But it’s also a very different situation, fighting against my teammate.
“Every year is different, you’re always learning... believing in yourself, having confidence, that’s the most important thing.”
With five wins from 13 podium finishes in 17 races this season, Norris has already improved on his tally of four victories and 13 podiums in 2024.
However, he trails teammate and drivers’ championship leader Oscar Piastri by 25 points ahead of the Singapore night race, where McLaren could seal back-to-back constructors’ titles if either driver makes the podium.
Despite finishing seventh in the last race in Azerbaijan and not being able to take full advantage of Piastri’s crash in Baku, Norris feels the winning momentum is on his side as the defending Singapore GP champion.
He added with a disarming smile: “I just played golf with Alex (Albon) and Pierre (Gasly), and I won, so that’s a good start for the weekend.”
In a more extensive interview with British Vogue, Norris shared how he has matured from a party animal – who was on deejay duty at a club in Singapore until 5am after racing – into a more focused athlete who is regularly tested for his body composition, metabolic rate, hand grip strength and heat tolerance.
He has customised meals to cater to “nutritional deficiencies detected in regular blood work”, hits the gym every day and trains his neck to “withstand immense G-forces”.
Another quirk that was revealed is a special mattress that he ships around the circuit to keep him cool as things heat up over race weekends.
He told ST: “Everyone has their own ways of sleeping and travelling, and it’s one of the most difficult things (to cope with).
“Singapore is one of my favourite places to come to, but it’s always quite warm... I always need to sleep in very cold conditions, so the room has to be as cold as possible and I also make the bed as cold as possible.”
While it may seem like Norris is leaving no stone unturned to win, he will be quick to remind others of his principles.
As the drivers’ championship intensifies with just seven races remaining, former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner has advised the orange-coloured McLaren to ditch their “papaya rules”, which instruct their drivers to fight hard but cleanly, without contact.
But, in light of Verstappen’s growing threat, Steiner feels McLaren should prioritise one driver in the title fight.
However, Norris, who has a squeaky clean image, is adamant on doing things the right way and leaving a positive legacy.
When asked about maintaining his “good guy” persona, he told ST: “It is tricky because my goal is to win every weekend, so I will always do everything I can to try and win.
“But I’m also a guy who thinks about the future in 20, 30 years’ time, when I will not be in Formula One. So, I think it’s always important to remember yourself on and off the track.
“I want to win, but off the track, I also want to be just a good guy who is respected. For me, that’s one of the most important things.”
