Lando Norris Joins Love Island Star 2 Days After Carlos Sainz Stole Spotlight With Novak Djokovic at Ryder Cup

If you think about it, Formula 1 is all about finding your perfect match. It’s all about timing. Being at the right place at the right time. Lando Norris seems to have found that with McLaren. They may not be winning races or championships at the moment, but they’re sure getting there. When a driver has the talent (which is, more often than not, a given if they made it to F1), they just need to find the perfect team for themselves. Or, at least, the perfect set of people to work with. Sound familiar? Maybe like Love Island? Hear me out.

Love Island is known for its dramatic and entertaining moments. Guess what the basis of Drive To Survive is? Drama and entertainment. Love Island focuses on relationships and interpersonal dynamics. Isn’t that what F1 is all about, too—a driver’s chemistry with their team and teammate? Isn’t that how they find their perfect match? Norris may have found his perfect match in McLaren, but that didn’t stop him from chasing after his second love. He found it in Rome, Italy. Who was alongside him? Love Island star Chris Hughes.

Lando Norris basks in the Roman sunshine at the Ryder Cup

The 23-year-old is coming off a double-podium in the Singapore-Suzuka double-header. While his team was celebrating back at the MTC, he headed to the Ryder Cup. When he arrived, he realized his best mate, Carlos Sainz, had already gotten a headstart. And it wasn’t just in terms of reaching Rome. The Ferrari driver took part in an All-Star game on Thursday, which was a prelude to the event. Teaming up with paralympic golfer Tommaso Perrino, he went up against tennis legend (and active player) Novak Djokovic and Kipp Popert. 

The closely contested match saw the Djoker edge out the Smooth Operator, but not before Sainz stole the show with some of his brilliance. That was a match everyone was looking forward to, and it did not disappoint. Unfortunately for Norris, he couldn’t compete after arriving on Friday. But he ensured he enjoyed the show from the sidelines. After he joined his compatriot, Chris Hughes, he posted a video of his lavish hotel room, writing, “A hotel room at The Ryder Cup…” 

Twitter user @Norriscontent created a montage of Norris and Hughes watching the action from the room. They wrote, “Lando and Chris Hughes at the Ryder Cup event!” With the exciting action on the golf course—the best of Europe versus the best of the United States—and the view from the room, Norris and Hughes must have had a blast. While Norris bonded with Hughes on Saturday, a tie also bound him and Djokovic.

Read More: Rafael Nadal Loyalist Carlos Sainz Set to Challenge His Arch Rival Novak Djokovic at Ryder Cup 2023

Norris and Djokovic love golf just the same

A few years ago, Norris’ notion about golf was this: “It is the most boring sport ever.” That was before Sainz made him play it. When Norris and Sainz were at McLaren, there were more than just teammates. They discovered things they both loved and after golf became another common link, Norris hasn’t looked back. Thanks to Sainz, Norris told Sky Sports at the Ryder Cup, “I love golf. If I could play every day, I would. It’s probably the sport I’m into the most outside of Formula 1.” What about Djokovic?

The 24-time Grand Slam winner is one of the best athletes on the planet. Whatever he puts his mind to, he excels at. That’s precisely what he did at the Ryder Cup throughout the All-Star matches. In a recent YouTube livestream by F1 journalist Peter Windsor, he discussed Sainz and Djokovic at the Ryder Cup. he said, “When they said to Novak, ‘Do you enjoy golf,’ he said, ‘Yeah, who doesn’t. Who doesn’t love golf?” The golf community witnessed a Carlos versus Novak match-up. Could a Lando-Novak face-off be a possibility as well?

Are you following the Ryder Cup? Who are you supporting, Team Europe or Team United States? Or are you on Team All-Stars?

WATCH THIS STORY | GOATs Lewis Hamilton & Tom Brady face off in friendly golf challenge in Miami