Young Lando Norris, since his debut in Formula 1, has been known as one of the friendliest drivers in the paddock. The Briton enjoys joking and having fun. This was evident when he partnered with Carlos Sainz (2019 – 2020) but even with Daniel Ricciardo, their rapport was quite good. This year, we’ve seen him “play” a bit less than in previous years. Perhaps Oscar Piastri’s personality has had some influence. The Woking team didn’t start the 2023 Formula 1 season in the best way, there’s a lot of work to be done, and maybe Lando has also felt a greater sense of responsibility, driven by the need to take the reins of the team himself, which is pushing him to indulge in fewer distractions.
Italian appreciation surprises Norris
Lando Norris is certainly a more mature driver than the young man who embarked on his Formula 1 career in 2019 at the age of just 19. He has grown, but he hasn’t lost his irrepressible sense of humor, which emerges as soon as a journalist points out the large number of fans who applauded and cheered for him during the Italian Grand Prix: “They were probably colorblind,” he joked with a smile, indirectly comparing McLaren’s papaya color to Ferrari’s red.
“I’m surprised by the support I’ve had despite not wearing red clothing. Even during the driver parade, I noticed many people shouting my name. There were really a lot of people doing it, even people wearing Ferrari jerseys,” Lando said, as reported by ‘GPFans.com.’
Trying to provide a more convincing explanation, the McLaren driver concluded: “We’ve had great races at Monza in the past, I especially remember the one from two years ago (McLaren’s double victory with Daniel Ricciardo taking the top step of the podium, editor’s note). However, it remains something truly surprising, so I’d like to give a big thank you to all of them.”
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