Lando Norris: nice guy finishes first after long road to top of F1 | Giles Richards

Lando Norris proved his exceptional skills as a Formula One driver by winning the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday. It took him a while to achieve his first victory, but it was definitely worth the wait. This win is a result of his hard work over 19 years, which almost came to an end when he was just five years old. At that time, his parents changed their minds about letting him follow in the footsteps of Valentino Rossi.

In the racing community, Norris is highly regarded and admired. He is a charming young man of 24 who doesn't mind staying back to help the team with the cleaning. His mechanics consider him not just a driver but a also a good friend. Everyone agrees that the victory couldn't have happened to a better person. This is the basic but true evaluation.

Following his remarkable victory in Florida, the McLaren driver has demonstrated that he can indeed compete with and defeat the world champion, Max Verstappen, contradicting those who doubted his capabilities. This success marked his initial win out of 110 races, and he believes it served as concrete evidence to disprove any reservations about his competence. The competition was straightforward, and he effortlessly secured first place while Verstappen trailed behind in second.

It was possible for Norris to have encountered obstacles on his path towards F1. During his childhood, he looked up to Rossi as a role model in MotoGP. His parents, Cisca and Adam, thought it was just a temporary interest and bought him a quad bike as a birthday present.

During our conversation for my book F1 Racing Confidential, he recollected one of his earliest memories of his life where he was given a little red plastic quad bike. It was his favorite possession, but it didn't last long as it was deemed too dangerous by his parents. He didn't realize it at first, but one day when he returned from school, it was gone. His parents didn't like seeing him go around corners on two wheels and sold it without informing him. This made him sad and he cried for several days because he was really fond of that bike.

After Norris dried his tears, he persisted with his parents until they allowed him to have a 50cc motorcycle to ride in the backyard. Then, they visited the Clay Pigeon kart track in Dorset, where the six-year-old became fascinated.

He developed a strong interest in karting and still vividly remembers some moments, such as when a fellow driver's dad gifted him a racing outfit.

He expressed, "There was a time in my youth when I obtained something, and I never wanted to part with it." He continued, "I even slept in it despite its odor and dilapidated appearance. The footwear was excessively large, but I relished wearing it all day indoors. Over time, my dad preserved it as my initial racing uniform, and we still retain it to this day."

During these years, Norris showed just how resolute he was. While facing criticism on social media about his skill level and competitiveness, he remained determined and focused. This determination was evident even when he was a child, as he displayed an unwavering amount of perseverance.

He confessed that when he was younger, he was not as big and heavy as he is now. He used to be bullied while racing in the British kart championship. However, when he grew up and obtained a kart that could compete, he began to win more frequently. When he reached the age of 13, he made the decision to pursue it as a serious hobby. Thankfully, his parents were supportive of his decision.

Following his karting career, Norris achieved success in F4 before progressing to Formula Renault and F3. McLaren identified his talent at a young age and made him a junior and simulator driver at the age of 16 in 2017. It took Norris only a year to participate in his first F1 free practice session at Spa, and in 2018, he signed a contract while in the back of his Carlin F2 team truck at Monza that secured his place in Formula One for 2019.

McLaren was doubted for their fast promotion of Norris, but he has proven himself beyond expectations. From being a new driver to becoming a leader in his team, he displays confidence and expertise, pushing his team forward. He also fearlessly competes with the best in the sport and even earned respect from Lewis Hamilton as a worthy adversary. Despite not winning his first race yet, Norris remains determined and unshaken.

While serving as a backup driver, he aided the mechanics in dismantling the vehicle following contests, forming bonds and associations that remain unbroken. Prior to his triumph in Miami, his subordinate mechanic, Frazer Burchell, held the notion that one could never discount the possibility of Norris accomplishing something remarkable. Burchell's intuition proved correct.

Burchell has a daring responsibility of operating the front jack for Norris's car during pit stops, which demands enormous trust between the mechanic and driver. Additionally, he secures Norris in the car before the race begins. Due to his crucial role, Burchell is in a prime position to evaluate the recent victor in F1.

Burchell mentioned that he has been acquainted with Lando since the latter was a junior driver for McLaren. At 19, the latter initially signed up as a reserve and had little to no recognition during race weekends. However, Burchell and his group would invite Lando to join them for dinner in the evenings. One thing that sets Lando apart is the fact that he has a tendency to help strip the car when his flight coincides with theirs.

"He's always open to conversing with us and relaxing, rather than isolating himself in his driver's quarters or returning to his lodgings. He's willing to join us in the garage and spend time with us, which makes us all regard him as both a colleague and a companion."

This is a massive compliment and a strong show of support for a driver who could potentially become a world champion. Burchell was in the spotlight as Norris hugged his team after getting out of his car in Miami. This moment was understandably celebrated by everyone at McLaren with great jubilation.

The team had been facing difficulties for more than ten years and their last winning moment was back in Monza in 2021. Their recent victory at the Miami Dolphins Hard Rock stadium had them celebrating with champagne, leaving a lasting smell. The festivities went on for a while, but their success has only just started. Winning the first game is always challenging, but now that Norris has achieved it, it's likely that more wins will come in the future.