Lando Norris opens up on emotional scenes following British GP win

A week on from his first home race victory, Lando Norris has reflected in detail on the monumental moment of his Formula 1 career.

The McLaren driver celebrated on the top step of the podium at Silverstone for the first time after an intense, rain-soaked race. His team-mate Oscar Piastri stood beside him in second, and the pair were joined by Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, who celebrated his first F1 podium.

The British driver was visibly emotional following the milestone, but has now had some time to let it sink in. “Has it sunk in? I would say yeah,” Norris explained to McLaren, “but I think there’s still going to be plenty of times when someone says, ‘Oh, you won your home race in Silverstone,’ that I’ll be like, ‘Oh, yeah I did.'”

He added, “I think it has, but I think there are many more moments where you kind of realise it again. It was very special.”

Norris explained that he found it difficult to put into words what the victory meant to him, but that the emotion in those around him portrayed it.

“It’s hard to say what it means. I think the emotion that everyone showed was more what it meant rather than saying some words. Like my mum and dad were there, my brother, my sisters, my dad’s parents. I’m sure my mum’s parents would have been very proud. They would have loved to have been there as well. So, I’m sure they’re looking down and enjoying the moment.

“But it’s just a nice moment because they’ve all kind of been on the journey with me to achieve something like this. It was very special. His Highness was there. And then for us as a team to have everyone there, the home race, one where a lot of the friends and family go. A good moment for the whole team.

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

“It felt like one of the – I would say one of the biggest achievements, even more than – if I kind of look back and think of my first podium or Monaco. Monaco was very special, very cool. But the one I’ve always said I wanted to win more than anything was Silverstone.

“Also, because of the fans and my own grandstand, a lot of moments all coming together, all to build up into getting this. So I think the emotion that everyone showed and the joy everyone showed is what it meant. But I don’t know how to describe it in words.”

One of the 25-year-old’s first memories of watching F1 was the 2008 British Grand Prix, when seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton claimed the victory. That was the last time that a McLaren driver had clinched the win at the event until Norris.

“A lot of what I remember is seeing the fans, the cheers, the noise,” Norris recounted. “Then I got to kind of live through that.

“A lot of the team that are here now were there celebrating that victory [in 2008]. And then there’s me at home, a little kid watching it on TV, dreaming of being in Formula 1 and standing on that top step in front of all the British fans. That’s a weird thought, thinking of it like that.

“I was thinking of that while I was driving around. I guess a perfect example of a kid’s dream, now achieving it.”

When asked what was going through his mind in the closing laps of the race, he explained, “A very – I [would] say slow – last couple laps ’cause a lot of thoughts going through my head. But it’s still just a relaxed but enjoyable moment ’cause I can picture it all right now.

“The main thought I had was coming around the last corner. A mixture [of thoughts], ’cause at the same time we’re on slicks and it was completely wet on the inside. But I wanted to go as close to the pitwall and in front of all the mechanics, so I was like, ‘don’t do anything stupid,’ ’cause it’s so easy to crash at that point even after the chequered flag.

“Driving next to the team, easy to spot all the papaya on the pitwall and then realise what we all achieved at that moment. You just have a lot of thoughts that quickly go through your head. It is a unique moment in my life and a career memory that will always be… No matter what I achieve in the future, this is one I’ll always remember.

“Of course, I want to win the most races possible and as many as I can, but at the end of it, one memory I would always have with me would probably be that this weekend.”