F1 News

norris knows disadvantages of being famous just like hamilton and verstappen

Norris knows exactly how Verstappen feels: 'But that's part of it'

14 May at 15:00
  • Ludo van Denderen

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton know all about it: there is virtually no place on earth, where the two most famous F1 drivers of the moment can walk the streets anonymously. It is a negative aspect to fame, big money and success. The echelon of drivers below Verstappen and Hamilton are also starting to get increasingly "bothered" by it; that they are being accosted or photographed everywhere. Lando Norris, now a Grand Prix winner, it is also happening more and more.

Even when Norris celebrates King's Day with friends on a private boat, there are always people posting images of it on social media. It's all part of it, apparently, Norris realises. "I was recognized everywhere you go. For every driver, I'm sure you get recognized quite a bit, especially with Drive to Survive and things like that. You have more people, let's say, in places, in every place almost, that are just watching TV and not specifically racing fans that recognize you. So it's definitely worse than a few years ago. But yeah, when you're on a boat and you're with Martin. Then, yeah, it's hard to go undercover."

Norris sometimes likes to be anonymous

Whether it irritates him? It doesn't. But whether Norris wishes he could live more anonymously sometimes? "No. Like, do I wish I was seen less? Yes. But that's part of it. So I got nothing to complain of. Yeah. Some nights or like, you know, sometimes when you're out for dinner or you're with your family, things like this. And then I guess you wish you were noticed less. You kind of always feel like there are some eyes on you. But I'm sure it doesn't matter."

Because, Norris believes, "I'm sure it's a lot worse for even more people, you know, whether it's Lewis or more famous people. But yeah, I'm sure a lot of people wish they could be in Formula One. So, you know, you win some, you lose some. And that's just part of it," the McLaren driver concluded.