McLaren driver Lando Norris has opened up on what started him on the path to success in Formula 1 as he credits his parents for instilling him with strong values and discipline that he would ultimately utilise in his career. Talking on the Pivot Podcast, the Briton reflected on his childhood.
Like many of us mere mortals, Norris’ love of racing began in video games.
“My dad was the guy who, you know… I would come home when I was three, four years old,” he explained.
“He’d be playing Gran Turismo, um, you know, some of the greats do start on Gran Turismo. And then I would wanna beat my dad. And then I’d race on the controller, and then eventually went to the steering wheel and the pedals and stuff.”
This love for racing games evolved into a love for racing, but the to-be-McLaren driver wasn’t going to be let off the hook.
“I started that quite young. But he was the guy who, and my mom as well for sure – who made me, at an early age, just work for things. You know, if I wanted to go and drive and play on Gran Turismo, because that’s what I loved, I used to do the chores in the house. I had to go and mow the lawn. I had to go and do these other things.”
This approach to his parenting laid the foundations for his work ethic as a driver in the pinnacle of motorsports, one he shares with 19 others on the grid.
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
“So, you know, like the discipline of things already, I think, was ingrained in me from quite an early age. But my parents brought me up in a very good way. I’m very thankful for them – not only for supporting me in the whole journey and for me being lucky enough that they could support me – letting me grow up in a correct way, you know?
“In a good way, with, I think, good manners and good humility and all those things. And having a lot of respect for the people that I work with and that I kind of always looked up to, you know? So I think that’s a very important thing.
“That’s probably one of the things that means the most to me – growing up like that and being a good kid rather than just someone who’s doing free-for-all and [is] rude but fast. And I would always almost take it the other way around.”
Norris began his season with a statement victory in a challenging Australian Grand Prix. Securing both pole and the win, he started as he meant to go on, with his machinery being clearly capable of strong results. One issue: his teammate, Oscar Piastri, wields the same machinery, and is now leading the championship after four wins of six this season. It might be time to boot up Gran Turismo again.
