McLaren driver Lando Norris has made his dream clear: “There is one team where everyone dreams of racing.”
He still looks like a youngster, yet time flies for everyone: the upcoming season will be Lando Norris’s seventh in Formula 1, all spent with McLaren. However, while the number 4 driver is undoubtedly the “captain” of the Papaya team, it seems that he has a dream hidden away—one that isn’t all that secret…
Lando Norris’s Career
Lando Norris made his Formula 1 debut in 2019 with McLaren after making a name for himself in junior categories, including finishing as runner-up in the 2018 Formula 2 championship. Over the years, the Bristol-born driver has helped McLaren grow, becoming the team’s reference driver. In 2021, he secured his first F1 podium and came close to victory at the Russian Grand Prix, only to be denied by rain and a strategic miscalculation.
From 2022 onward, Norris has continued to establish himself as one of the most promising talents on the grid, frequently challenging faster cars thanks to his qualifying prowess and race consistency. In 2023, he claimed more podiums, while on May 5, 2024, in Miami, he clinched his first Formula 1 victory. That win was followed by three more—one of them at Zandvoort, where he finished 20 seconds ahead of home hero Max Verstappen—bringing his career tally to four.
Now, in 2025, the British driver faces his biggest challenge yet: according to top bookmakers, he is the favorite to win the Formula 1 World Championship, which kicks off in just seven days.
The Number 4’s Words
Speaking to NBC, Norris initially stated:“I’m very happy at McLaren. They gave me my F1 debut, have supported me every step of the way, and I’ll be here in Woking for a long time. I’m excited to be a Papaya driver.”
A lifelong love for McLaren? Yes, but… with a hint of caution. Norris then added: “I know exactly which team I’d like to join in the future. I’m talking about the team that everyone, at least once in their career, wants to be a part of.”
A future at Ferrari for him, then? Difficult—very difficult for this move to happen anytime soon. In fact, the impression is that for at least the next two to three years, Lando’s dream will remain just that. But in today’s Formula 1, never say never…
Photo: Grok 3