Nürburgring/Germany, 9th September 2017 – Lando Norris first sat in a kart at just seven years of age. His first major success came in 2014, when he became the youngest British karting world champion. “I won that title as a 14-year-old, and replaced Lewis Hamilton as the youngest winner. That was great, and something I am very proud of. However, even before that success, I already knew that my future was in motor racing,” says Norris.
2016 yielded another title in Formula 2, as well as several starts in the British Formula 3 Championship. This made the step up to the FIA Formula 3 European Championship a little easier for Norris, although the 17-year-old still had to adapt to the new series. “The cars in FIA Formula 3 are more powerful than the cars I had driven previously in other series. Plus, the downforce is far greater. The opposition is also much stronger: one mistake and you are out of the top ten.”
The talented young driver rarely makes a mistake. As a rookie, he drives serenely, adapts superbly to any conditions, and is always perfectly prepared for his races. “I don’t do yoga or any other concentration exercises, but focus on the coming qualifying or the race. I go through the starting procedure and think about where you can push and overtake. Sometimes I discuss these things with my team-mates. Motorsport is so much fun. I always enjoy it, even when I am not in the car.”
Tyre management plays an important role in Norris’s success. However, it remains a science in its own right for the young driver. “We experiment a lot with tyre pressure and always try to adapt it to suit the circuit layout, asphalt and temperatures. That is incredibly difficult, as a tenth more or less pressure can, in qualifying for example, make the difference between pole and 14th place. You have to do a lot of testing and need lots of experience to get the right air pressure.”
The race tyre provided by premium tyre manufacturer Hankook not only helps the 17-year-old implement his strategy. The Ventus Race is consistently quick and also ensures that Norris can react to any race situation. “With the Hankook tyre, you can push right down to the final lap and focus fully on your race. If necessary, you can up your pace without worrying about the tyre degrading. As such, you can be very flexible with the Hankook tyre.”
The Brit is destined for a career in motorsport. As a participant on the 2017 McLaren-Honda Young Driver programme, he has already completed test drives in a Formula 1 car and can only see himself ultimately in a cockpit in the pinnacle of motor racing. Norris: “Formula 1 is no longer a dream for me. It has become a reality. The McLaren-Honda programme gives me the opportunity to step up into the elite class over the next few years. My dream then is to become world champion.”
