{"id":620924,"date":"2026-04-21T07:37:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T07:37:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/620924\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T07:37:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T07:37:08","slug":"im-not-the-boss-lando-norris-is-articulate-open-and-intelligent-when-hes-allowed-to-be-lando-norris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/620924\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I\u2019m not the boss\u2019: Lando Norris is articulate, open and intelligent \u2013 when he\u2019s allowed to be | Lando Norris"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are always complications and difficulties in Formula One, as there are in life and even in this interview. On a beautiful evening at a lavish golf club in Surrey, Lando Norris<\/a> and I are tucked away in an anonymous yet brightly-lit room crammed with a television crew and representatives from his management team and Laureus, the global organisation driven by a belief that \u201csport has the power to change the world\u201d.<\/p>\n

At first Norris talks thoughtfully and honestly about his struggles with profound insecurity before becoming world champion<\/a> last year. But we reach a low point when a young man from his management company feels sufficiently empowered to answer questions on the 26-year-old\u2019s behalf, as a way of controlling our interview.<\/p>\n

The racing driver has just been filmed in this room as he makes a short acceptance speech to accept the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year<\/a> \u2013 an award previously given to Rafael Nadal, Lewis Hamilton, Andy Murray, Rory McIlroy, Jude Bellingham and Lamine Yamal.<\/p>\n

Sir Chris Hoy has presented it here because Norris could not attend the glittering ceremony in Madrid on Monday night. The trophy sits on the table between us and Norris sounds proud as he tells me that \u201cany opportunity where I go alongside champions from other sports is incredible. I never dreamed of that as a kid. Certain people know when they\u2019re a child they\u2019re going to be a champion. My mindset was never like that. It was never: \u2018I\u2019m going to do this.\u2019 It was always: \u2018Can I? Am I able to?\u2019 So this is not just a trophy. It\u2019s a realisation that my name is alongside incredible people. It\u2019s like I\u2019m in their world and that\u2019s a beautiful thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Laureus award was announced with Norris trying to recover from a disappointing start to the new season. He languishes in fifth position, 47 points behind the teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli<\/a> of\u00a0Mercedes.<\/p>\n

Lando Norris is revealed as winner of the Laureus Breakthrough of the Year Award. Photograph: Ian McIlgorm\/Ian McIlgorm for Laureus<\/p>\n

The war in Iran, meanwhile, has led to the cancellation of races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. F1\u2019s enforced break, which will last more than a month, allows Norris time to train, rest and reset.<\/p>\n

Ten days ago, he watched the final round of the Masters on his sofa. He was gripped by McIlroy\u2019s tumultuous second straight victory at Augusta. But Norris admits, with typical candour, that he \u201cfell asleep with three holes to go because I had work in the morning. I watched every hour possible until the last hour. Last year we were in Bahrain and we all gathered round watching\u00a0it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Can Norris learn from other sports? \u201cYes. There\u2019re always little things from what you see and what you hear people talking about \u2013 especially Rory. He\u2019s always quite open about his struggles and things he\u2019s trying when it\u2019s not working out. It means even more when you know the athletes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve spoken to Rory a couple of times. I don\u2019t know some of the others, like Justin [Rose], who I wanted to win even more since he was so close last year. For Rosey to be going strong at 45 is pretty awesome. So there are always things you can learn and, when you speak to them, you get to know even more about their mindset.\u201d<\/p>\n

Norris reveals that \u201cthere are certain people I spoke to last year, when I was struggling. Top athletes, some of the best in the world, and I spoke to them about my struggles and what they do in those times. How do they block out the noise and be themselves on the tennis court or golf course, or wherever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Norris is understandably careful when asked who he spoke to: \u201cI\u2019d rather not say. But they\u2019re incredible people who achieved a lot in different sports and certainly helped me achieve what I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

When did he need their help? \u201cIt was more like the start, that minimal part of the season when things weren\u2019t clicking and I wasn\u2019t very comfortable with the car. It was quick and easily good enough to win races. I just couldn\u2019t figure it out on my own. That\u2019s the way I am \u2013 I need help from many different\u00a0people.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you\u2019ve then got to go out and do the job yourself. Last year was very special as there are only 35 world champions from Formula One<\/a> \u2013 ever. For me to be added to that list is pretty incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sometimes that glorious reality strikes with fresh impact. \u201cI was away last week, with some friends, and at dinner one of them said: \u2018Do you not find it weird that you\u2019re world champion?\u2019 It\u2019s one of those cool realisations again. I also get the reminder every [race] weekend because I\u2019ve got the No 1 on my car.\u201d<\/p>\n

His latest award is also meaningful to Norris because Laureus uses sport to bolster people in disadvantaged communities \u201cincluding mental health<\/a>. When I was younger I never knew I\u2019d have the platform to speak about [mental health]. So to realise the amount I can help other people is special. In the longer term that means more than winning a world championship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lando Norris at the Australian Grand Prix this season. Photograph: Mark Peterson\/Reuters<\/p>\n

The 26-year-old has spoken before about how, in his first F1 season in 2019, impostor syndrome and depression nearly derailed him. \u201cThere were lots of doubts: \u2018Do I deserve to be here? Why am I not as good as these people?\u2019 You feel you\u2019re wasting people\u2019s time \u2026 I struggled a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

A vulnerable Norris still had the empathy then to think of others and order 800 personalised water bottles. Each one featured the name of a McLaren<\/a> employee, no matter their position. \u201cThat was 2019 and a lot still use their water bottle today,\u201d he says. \u201cMy biggest motivation is always trying to make my team happy, as much as it is to make myself happy and win. There\u2019re certainly drivers that don\u2019t care about it as much but it\u2019s something I\u2019ve always loved.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember in 2018 [as a test driver] I used to help pack the stuff in the evening with the mechanics. They do more hours than anyone, and get up at 4am. A couple of my mechanics now were at one of my first-ever test days [as a teenage simulator driver] \u2026 I\u2019ve also been with my engineers since my first [F1] test in Budapest in 2017.\u201d<\/p>\n

double quotation markI\u2019ve given up trying to guess what\u2019s going to happen in Formula OneLando Norris<\/p>\n

Will Joseph was one of those men and, as McLaren\u2019s director of engineering, he once said: \u201cWe often perform at our best when Lando performs at a subconscious level, without having to give the driving much thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

Norris nods. \u201cIt\u2019s the dream every weekend to get to that stage. Sometimes it feels impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n

The \u201cbest example\u201d of that flow-state \u201cwas the only qualifying lap where I cried afterwards. That was my Monaco pole last year<\/a>. Qualifying was going pretty poorly and I started to question myself. Have I lost that little edge in qualies? It\u2019s always been my biggest strength since I was a kid. Monaco is the hardest, and the one I struggled with since I came into Formula One. You have fear and different challenges. It\u2019s Monaco and an incredibly tricky lap.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to push past that conscious level. You have to get past thinking: \u2018I\u2019m going to brake here and do this.\u2019 If you want pole, you\u2019ve got to shut your eyes round the corner and see if you make it to the other side. It was special.\u201d<\/p>\n

This season is very different. \u201cIt\u2019s been a difficult start,\u201d Norris concedes. \u201cThat\u2019s the price you pay for winning the world championship and throwing all your eggs in one basket. But 1776757028 is a time to work on developments and upgrades without races.\u201d<\/p>\n

Teams have had to build completely new chassis and engines this season, to comply with the changed regulations, and McLaren lag badly behind Mercedes. Can they improve quickly or will it take months?<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very difficult to say because you never know when other people are going to bring upgrades. I\u2019ve given up trying to guess what\u2019s going to happen in Formula One. But we\u2019re confident we can have a much more competitive car over the next month or two.\u201d<\/p>\n

A few hours earlier I had been sent a message saying that Norris\u2019s management did not want me to ask about his friendship and rivalry with Max Verstappen and George Russell or about the new F1 regulations. Norris has said before that the changes are dangerous and \u201cwe\u2019ve come from the best cars ever made in Formula One, and the nicest to drive, to probably the worst. It sucks.<\/a>\u201d I push back, saying it is essential to ask Norris a few questions about the regulation\u00a0shake-up.<\/p>\n

Lando Norris celebrates with his team after becoming world champion. Photograph: Amr Alfiky\/Reuters<\/p>\n

With 10 minutes left of the interview I ask about the regulations. Norris\u2019s manager is not with us in person but a phone has been placed on the table. His disembodied voice suddenly crackles from it and stresses that there can be no questions about this subject; his sole interjection during the interview.<\/p>\n

I turn to Norris and underline the importance of the issue. A young representative of the management team in the room with us steps closer to say: \u201cWe\u2019re done with time.\u201d<\/p>\n

I ask Norris if he can spare the additional 10 minutes I\u2019d been promised. He looks embarrassed and says: \u201cI\u2019m not the boss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Norris is the world champion and his management company work for him and, when I protest this, he says: \u201cThat\u2019s fine. I\u2019m happy to answer that question.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d says the representative in the room.<\/p>\n

Norris smiles awkwardly as he again says: \u201cI\u2019m not the boss.\u201d<\/p>\n

This muzzling of Norris is at odds with his open nature and the fact that McLaren allow him to be available for uncensored media engagements every race week.<\/p>\n

We discuss a few other subjects including the fact that the next grand prix is a week on Sunday in Miami \u2013 where Norris recorded his emotional first F1 victory in 2024. But is it possible to catch Mercedes this season?<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re done with time,\u201d the management representative in the room says.<\/p>\n

I ask Norris why even such a mild question can\u2019t be addressed. \u201cNo, we\u2019re not answering that,\u201d the man\u00a0adds.<\/p>\n

Even Norris looks exasperated as he turns to him and asks: \u201cWhy? Say yes.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the end, Norris decides to answer the bland query anyway: \u201cYes [Mercedes] can [be caught] and we\u2019re doing our best to make sure it\u2019ll be us who do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Will Verstappen quit F1<\/a>? It\u2019s a legitimate question but there is laughter from the managerial camp. \u201cI\u2019ve no idea,\u201d Norris says. \u201cMax can do whatever he likes.\u201d<\/p>\n

I say it seems like Norris can\u2019t do the same which is crazy when he is obviously intelligent.<\/p>\n

His representative approaches us, goes into overdrive and, still laughing, says, as if talking on behalf of Norris: \u201cHe\u2019s an amazing guy. Max is the best person ever and we love him. Quote.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the end I shake Norris\u2019s hand and thank him for his time. Once he has left, I walk over to the garrulous young manager. I point to my white hair as a sign I have been interviewing famous sports people for a long time. For what it\u2019s worth, I say, I think he and his company are doing Norris a great disservice.<\/p>\n

I also offer him my hand and walk away into the night. The regret I feel is less for my own curtailed encounter than the troubling fact that an admirable world champion has to be policed in this way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There are always complications and difficulties in Formula One, as there are in life and even in this…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":620925,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[572],"tags":[64,63,806,805,803,804,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-620924","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-motosport","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-motor","11":"tag-motor-sports","12":"tag-motosport","13":"tag-motosports","14":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/620924","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=620924"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/620924\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/620925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=620924"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=620924"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=620924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}