Lando Norris

Lando Norris was born on November 13, 1999, in Bristol, England. He began karting at the age of seven and quickly rose through the ranks, winning the World Karting Championship in 2014 and the CIK-FIA European Championship. His transition to single-seaters was seamless — he won the 2015 Ginetta Junior Championship, the 2016 Formula Renault Eurocup with Josef Kaufmann Racing, and the 2017 Formula 3 European Championship with Carlin.

In 2018, Norris competed in Formula 2 with Carlin, finishing as runner-up to George Russell while simultaneously serving as McLaren's test and reserve driver. His standout junior career earned him a full-time McLaren F1 seat for 2019, making him just 19 years old at his debut in Melbourne. He immediately impressed with his speed, scoring points regularly and finishing 11th in the championship in his rookie season.

The 2020 season saw Norris take his first podium at the Austrian Grand Prix — the opening race of the COVID-delayed season — finishing third. He backed it up with further podiums throughout 2020 and 2021, including a heartbreaking near-victory at the 2021 Russian Grand Prix where rain in the closing laps robbed him of what would have been his maiden win.

That elusive first victory finally came at the 2024 Miami Grand Prix, where Norris dominated proceedings to take a commanding win. This breakthrough opened the floodgates, and he added several more victories throughout 2024 as McLaren produced their most competitive car in years. Norris emerged as Max Verstappen's closest challenger for the championship, pushing the Dutchman all the way to the final rounds.

The 2025 season proved to be Norris's crowning glory. With McLaren providing him with a consistently quick car, he strung together a remarkable campaign of victories and podiums to clinch the World Drivers' Championship — McLaren's first since Lewis Hamilton's title in 2008. His dominance throughout the season saw him earn the right to carry the number 1 on his car for 2026, a symbol of his status as the sport's reigning champion.

Off the track, Norris is known for his engaging personality, his love of streaming and gaming on Twitch, and his openness about mental health challenges in elite sport. He has connected with a younger generation of F1 fans in a way few drivers have managed, becoming one of the most popular figures in the paddock.