“Start to Get a Little Bit Nervous”: Lando Norris Opens Up on Traveling Pet Peeve That Leaves Him Sweating as a Passenger

You would think Formula 1 drivers would want to spend as little time behind the wheel when they’re not in their F1 cars, considering that their day job is driving. But it turns out most of them can’t handle not being the ones in charge while driving outside of F1. But it also makes sense in a way because F1 is considered the pinnacle of motorsport, the highest form of racing. To be one of the 20 drivers on the grid would automatically mean that they’re few of the best drivers in the world. And one driver who absolutely can’t handle being a passenger is McLaren driver Lando Norris.

In a recent interview with Esquire, Norris opened up about his personality as a passenger. While F1 drivers might seem superhuman—driving at upwards of 300 kph and withstanding G-forces only fighter pilots do—outside of F1, they’re just like us ordinary people. And they love their sleep, especially Lando. And he proved just how much when he said, “If it’s a long, long trip, I have to be a passenger just because I want to be able to sleep.” But when it comes to short distances, no one can compel him to sit shotgun or in the backseat, not even by bribing him with a couple of Capri Suns. And he revealed why.

The young Brit said, “For short trips, I’m often quite happy driving because I am a terrible passenger. It’s when the person who’s driving thinks that they’re really good at driving when they’re not. That’s when I start to get a little bit nervous.”

He explained how he just doesn’t have confidence in others driving him when he’s a professional driver. He continued, “It makes me a little bit nervous that if they’re driving a Formula 1 driver, that they suddenly think they’re a Formula 1 driver. That’s the thing that concerns me every now and then.”

Read More: “I Get a Little Paranoid”: Lando Norris Reveals the Pre-Race Non-Negotiable That Brings Out the “Team Player” in Him

Now you know why you never see Lando in the passenger seat whenever you tune in to watch a McLaren Unboxed after a race weekend. He’s a driver and likes to stay in charge whenever he isn’t too sleepy to last the drive. But on his long-distance journey to the Hungarian GP, we doubt he might’ve got any sleep.

Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo reunite in the air

Daniel Ricciardo returned to the F1 grid this weekend at the Hungarian GP after AlphaTauri replaced Nyck De Vries. During his time in McLaren alongside Norris, the pair became quite close, and fans started calling the duo “Landan.” Theirs was one of the most awaited reunions after Ricciardo’s return, and it happened on a flight—specifically, their flight to Hungary. They both posted a series of pictures on Instagram in which they were visibly having a blast (as you would expect with Ricciardo there). But Lando would’ve known better than to doze off with Daniel right beside him.

When Daniel was in Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen, the two became good friends and often traveled together. They continued to do so even after the Aussie left the team in 2019. And in one instance, Max was taking a nap, and Daniel didn’t let go of the opportunity to take a video of him. To avoid a similar situation, Lando must’ve stayed up for the entirety of the two-and-a-half hours of travel. And well, they seemed to have had a lot of fun, bonding over their shared love for photography.

What do you think of Norris’ Pet Peeve of being a nervous passenger? Would you be a good passenger if you were a Formula 1 driver?

WATCH THIS STORY | Spectacular F1 Helmet Designs at 2022 Miami GP Ft. Daniel Ricciardo & Lando Norris