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Lando Norris is F1 World Champion – and it all started with a Motorsport UK licence

Across F1’ s 75-year history, the UK has been a dominant force, producing 11 of the 35 World Champions crowned to date, but the latest one might have turned to horse or motorcycle riding if his dad had not taken him to see the British Kart Championship at the age of seven.

Having seen four-wheeled racing first hand, the young Norris soon joined Trent Valley Kart Club and went on to succeed in domestic championships. He won Formula Kart Stars Mini Max which was part of the British Kart Championship package, then took international glory in the European and World Kart Championships.

In 2014 – at the age of just 14 – he earned a national racing licence and joined Ginetta Juniors. As one of the least experienced drivers on the grid, he combined scintillating pace with rookie mistakes and his attitude, even right at the start, that said it all.

Speaking after his first two races, he showed the maturity and humility that has marked his career.“ It was really enjoyable, the mistakes were totally my fault, but these things happen,” he said.“ The pace was there all weekend. With more experience we hope to do a lot better.”

A year later, he won the then MSA Formula( now British Formula 4 Championship) then rapidly rocketed up the ladder via Formula Renault Eurocup( Champion), European F3( Champion), F2( runner-up to George Russell) and into F1 with McLaren in 2019.

His wear-it-on-the-sleeve honesty has gained him many fans, and he has openly recognised his battles with mental health.“ I like doing my own things and thinking in my own head,” he told F1. com in April this year.“ I’ m an introvert – massively –( and) because of being introverted, I just grew up always being very self-conscious of everything.

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“ I have always worked on myself more than I have ever blamed anyone. There are pros and cons of that kind of mentality. I have learned to utilise it in a good way … to optimise it and use it in terms of making me better.”

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Norris began racing in the Ginetta Juniors at just 14

Norris took the F1 title in Abu Dhabi this weekend

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Revolution- December 2025