McLaren’s Lando Norris has revealed that he’s put aside a beloved pastime to focus more intently on his Formula 1 aspirations.
Among the current lineup of F1 drivers, Norris is often viewed as a prime candidate to clinch his first Grand Prix victory, a sentiment that might spark a friendly rivalry with his teammate, Oscar Piastri.
During an appearance on The Peter Crouch Podcast, Norris discussed the personal sacrifices he’s making in pursuit of his F1 ambitions. He found himself waiting for his turn to test the McLaren car in Bahrain’s pre-season testing, taking over from Piastri who drove in the morning session.
With McLaren finishing the previous season on a high note, they’re looking at the 2024 season with optimism. Despite their impressive performance, only Red Bull, led by the formidable Max Verstappen, outperformed them in the latter half of 2023, leaving Norris just shy of a victory.
Matching Nick Heidfeld’s record for the most podiums without a win, Norris is eager to break this streak and aims for the top spot in the upcoming Bahrain race.
Norris has decided to sacrifice one of his cherished hobbies to sharpen his focus on his racing career. This hobby, DJing, has been set aside, with Norris jokingly stating he’s “retired” from the turntables to prioritize his professional goals.
This decision underlines his commitment and determination to excel in Formula 1, highlighting the lengths to which he’s willing to go to achieve success.
“I’ve got races to win and championships to try and win. I got heavily addicted to DJing and I will not blame Mr [Martin] Garrix for this who I’m dear, close friends with but he did get me my first set of decks and I would travel by plane or whatever it was, in cars, with my decks, with speakers and hotel rooms and I brought my decks with me.
“I loved it, I love music but I really, really loved it but I got to the point where I was doing so much and I DJed a couple of clubs but it wasn’t right, it wasn’t the correct thing for me to do.
“It wasn’t distracting me, but it was just taking my mind too much away from what I needed to do which is my job.
“I loved it and I loved that world, it’s just I’ve got a daytime job and this is a nighttime job, so when you try to do both, zero sleep is in the schedule.”
While he has temporarily set aside his DJing pursuits, Norris is aware that there will be opportunities in the future to revisit his hobby.
At 24, he observes fellow F1 competitor Valtteri Bottas, who manages to balance his Formula 1 commitments with a passion for cycling, and contemplates whether a similar approach could work for him.
