- Lando Norris lists Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton as his childhood inspirations.
- The McLaren champion ranks Sebastian Vettel third because of his Red Bull success.
- Fernando Alonso completes the list due to his personality and shared racing years.
Lando Norris recently revealed his favourite F1 drivers, ranking them 1-4 in a video uploaded by McLaren. He ranked two ex-McLaren drivers first, then added an ex-Red Bull driver and a current Aston Martin driver to the list. Surprisingly, his list stood out for its unique selections, as it did not include several other frequently mentioned F1 greats such as Michael Schumacher, Max Verstappen, and Ayrton Senna.
Norris debuted in F1 in 2019 and has been loyal to McLaren since. He and Oscar Piastri contributed immensely to securing two back-to-back constructors’ championship titles in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Last year, both drivers were competing for the WDC as well, with Verstappen emerging out of the blue mid-season to fight for the title.
The last whole year was a rollercoaster of ups and downs for Norris, who fought till the very last lap in Abu Dhabi, and was crowned the champion, fulfilling his childhood dream. He ended up third on the podium, winning by 2 points over Verstappen.
Norris names four F1 favourites
In a McLaren video, Norris introduced himself to the camera and listed four of his favourite drivers, naming the first two as Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, both British and ex-McLaren drivers. Revealing why they top his list, he added, “These were the guys I supported when I was a kid and inspired me when I was a kid. So, two Brits, two incredible drivers, two McLaren drivers, two of my favourites.”
He then mentioned that naming the third and fourth drivers is a bit “trickier.” However, he did give out two names, revealing that he’ll give that spot to drivers whom he grew up watching and experienced. He placed Sebastian Vettel in third place, describing him as a “lovely” and “good guy.”
He further added, “When I was in starting car racing, he was winning his championships with Red Bull. So for me to kind of see that, experience it. He was a passionate guy, was stylish with his helmets and things like that. So was a different driver for me in that case.”
His fourth favourite driver is Fernando Alonso, a driver he experienced during his early years with McLaren. He then appreciated his personality and friendly nature. “So when you mix a good personality with a great driver, I think all four of those are pretty good drivers,” he said.
Norris also admires Ayrton Senna
On several occasions, Norris has showcased his admiration for Senna, who died in 1994, following a high-speed crash at the San Marino Grand Prix at the Imola Circuit in Italy. For instance, last year, the world champ revealed that winning the Brazilian grand prix, which he did eventually, would be special for him because of Senna. While he clarified that he doesn’t go about thinking that one race is more important than the other, some circuits are dear to him specifically because of history, like his home race, Silverstone and Monaco.
He mentioned that the Brazilian race is special to him due to its association with Senna and his McLaren legacy. “Of course, this is one, especially because you relate everything to Ayrton and the history that he had. Also with McLaren, specifically. It would be more special. It’s important. Every race is important. But it would be more special, I think,” he explained.
During the Monaco Grand Prix weekend in 2024, when McLaren paid tribute to Senna through a special livery, Norris, who has often considered Senna his hero and inspiration, was asked an interesting hypothetical question: what he would ask Senna if given the opportunity.
He replied that he would ask “if he cared about what other people thought.” His response likely stemmed from the criticism he has faced in recent years, including scrutiny surrounding his mental health struggles. However, Norris has continued to carry himself with grace, consistently showing that vulnerability is not a weakness, and has openly advocated for mental health.
