I’m an F1 star with £32m in career earnings but I hate driving – people try to race me at traffic lights
FORMULA ONE star Lando Norris has revealed he “hates” driving on the road.
Norris, 24, is entering his fifth full season with McLaren in F1.
His exploits behind the wheel of an F1 car have marked him out as a one of the fastest drivers on the grid.
Norris has won 13 podiums throughout his career, including six second place finishes behind and one third last season.
However, while he has a need for speed on the track when racing against the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, Norris does not enjoy the more pedestrian road driving for that exact reason.
Appearing on That Peter Crouch Podcast, Norris was asked what his experience driving on the road was, to which he said: “I hate it. I’m more scared on the road than I am in a race car.”
Norris explained this feeling came from people wanting to take him on in a race when they pull up alongside him.
He said: “Yeah I’ve had it (people wanting to take me on).
“I actually had it [when] we were filming something and I was taking a kid to school and I had to go and pick him up from his house in the morning in a McLaren.
“So he’s sitting beside me, cameras everywhere, driving nicely, speed limit and there’s traffic lights, I’m in my race suit in public and I’m sitting there and someone clocks me on the side.
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“I’m like I have a kid here and a TV and I’m like ‘okay’ (gesturing with his thumb) and I put down the window and say hello.
“And you can tell [he’s ready to go], he’s thinking it. [But] I couldn’t, I have to act a certain way.”
Norris added: “You have those moments but you need to let them have their little bit – I beat him off the line too – just feel good [moments]
Norris is the son of Adam Norris, who was the 501st richest man in Britain as of 2018, but his talent behind the wheel has also allowed him to earn a cool £32million from his ever-improving McLaren deals.
The latest renewal will see him remain at the team beyond the end of the 2025 season, with his current terms seeing him pocket £13m a year before possibly rising to £20m from 2026 onwards.
In 2022 the Sunday Times reported Norris was worth £10m, though he is now estimated to be worth almost £24m.
Norris has splashed a fair bit of his earnings on a lavish motor collection which includes everything from a McLaren to a Fiat.
The latter, which was Norris’ first car, is a 1972 Fiat 500 Jolly which has been put up for sale £28,000.
He has a McLaren 765LT Spider worth £313,000, a £166,000 McLaren GT and allegedly a Rolls Royce Wraith which can set you back up to £324,000.
Norris has been in action during F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain.
The lights for the new season go out for the season on March 2.
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