Formula 1 might not have counted on Lando Norris if a childhood accident hadn’t completely redirected the Briton’s career path. The current champion revealed that he began competing on two wheels before switching to karting, a decision taken after a fall that made him give up motorcycling.
Today a McLaren driver and a world title contender, Norris maintains a strong link to the motorcycle universe. A declared admirer of MotoGP and of the multiple champion Valentino Rossi, he drew inspiration from the Italian even to craft the fluorescent yellow visual identity that has followed him on his helmet throughout his career.
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The bond between Norris and the motorcycle world has also strengthened in recent years, yielding several collaborations, including a joint appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend. Despite his passion for bikes, the Brit has revealed that everything began long before his karting debut.
“Actually, I started on motorcycles. I rode bikes before ever trying a Kart, before piloting any four-wheeled vehicle,” Norris said during the event’s official broadcast. “I had an accident and I never did it again. I think that showed I wasn’t really cut out for it. But no one will tell Zak (Brown, McLaren CEO), right?” he joked.
The British driver also revealed that he intends to return to motorcycle riding as a hobby. According to Norris, he is looking to buy his first bike, though he still has doubts about which model would be best to start with.
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“I’m trying to buy my first motorcycle and want to enter this world. I still don’t know which would be ideal to start with. I even considered buying a MotoGP bike and going straight to the most extreme,” he said in a relaxed tone.
Despite the urge to resume riding, Norris underscored that his priority remains Formula 1: “I want to ride more on a bike. Of course my focus is entirely on Formula 1 and I want to win many more titles, but life is short. It goes by quickly, and I still want to get back on two wheels to see what it’s like,” the Briton concluded.
Jake Thompson
I'm Jake Thompson, a motorsport journalist born and raised in North Carolina, where NASCAR weekends were basically family holidays. I’ve been covering everything from Formula 1 to rally raids for over a decade, blending sharp analysis with a fan’s heart. For me, writing about racing isn’t just a job — it’s the best seat in the house.
