The 21-year-old racing driver has gone from strength to strength since making his racing debut in 2008, his first year at club level karting, but does he have what it takes to be a world champion?
With a history of achievements, Norris has certainly made his mark on the motorsport industry. He’s the youngest driver to-date to get pole at a national meet for Comer Cadet at only 10-years-old; in 2010 he came third in the Super One series after achieving several podiums and a series of pole-positions – the most of any driver that year. Norris was champion of the Formula Kart Stars series and the runner-up in the MSA Super One British Championship in 2012, which led to more wins for the Somerset driver, including being the youngest karting world champion after his victory in the 2014 CIK-FIA KF World Championship. Norris was also crowned the FIA Formula 4 Champion of Great Britain in 2015. With a lot of accomplishments under his belt already, things could only get better for him.
2016 was his most successful year yet as he took three Championship crowns: Renault Eurocup, Renault NEC and Toyota Racing Series. In 2017, Norris made history by being the youngest FIA Formula 3 European Champion for McLaren and became their official F1 test and reserve driver for 2018. Racing in Formula 2 saw Norris become vice-champion after 9 podiums in the 2018 season, which led to him making his Formula 1 debut a year later.
Norris’s Formula 1 career has only improved since his first race in Australia 2019; racing in the papaya McLaren, Norris scored his maiden F1 podium in the 2020 season-opener at the Austrian Grand Prix. Since then, he has had 5 podium finishes and popped the champagne in his own unique way! The 2021 Monza GP, saw Norris get his highest F1 finish to-date, achieving P2, behind his teammate Daniel Ricciardo. What a weekend for the whole McLaren team! Norris continued his success at Sochi with an epic qualifying time of 1:41.993 that saw him take his first ever pole-position. Unfortunately, the weather on race day threw him for a spin as Norris lost out on his maiden win with a P7 finish.
Lando Norris has had lots of success in the motorsport world and has continued to get better as the years go on. His talent is obvious; his courage to make risky moves is clear; and his determination to succeed is shown through his trophies. Having created his own eSports team, Team Quadrant, and recently partnering with OTK Kart Group to launch his own racing team, LN Racing Kart, Norris has a lot of projects in his life. With his talent and dedication, he will most certainly be crowned a Formula 1 World Champion in years to come.