Lando Norris has quickly become one of the most popular figures in Formula 1. As the face of McLaren’s resurgence, his youthful charisma, daring driving style, and relatable personality have won him a legion of fans worldwide. Whether it’s his on-track heroics or his off-track humor, Norris consistently finds himself in the spotlight.

But not all attention has been positive lately. One of Norris’ prized possessions, a Ferrari F40, made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Recently, a viral video of a horrific F40 crash stunned the fans. The incident fuelled speculations on who was behind the wheel, and a swirl of theories quickly emerged.

2024 was a landmark year for Norris, who delivered a stellar season. He fought hard with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen to win the World Championship. He even thwarted Ferrari’s hopes of clinching the Constructors’ Championship by winning the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Off the racetrack, Norris enjoys a luxurious lifestyle, showcasing his passion for rare cars, which he often goes viral among his fans on social media.

In early January, eagle-eyed fans noticed damage to the left rear of Lando Norris’ rare Ferrari F40. Speculation about the cause began circulating on social media. The mystery deepened until a video emerged showing the car in an accident on the mountainous roads around Monaco.

The video revealed an unknown driver losing control of the rear end while exiting a left-hand bend. Despite the dry conditions, the car spun out of control, sliding backward into a barrier. However the damage appeared minimal, and the car remained drivable. However, what shocked fans was that Norris was not behind the wheel at the time of the crash.

This revelation triggered a lot of speculation about the mystery man behind the wheels. Social media detectives quickly pieced together clues and began pointing fingers at the real culprit. While many fans pointed out that a mechanic was driving that car, some believe a friend of Norris was behind the wheel. Observers reported seeing a young man with a beard driving the F40 around Monte Carlo in the days leading up to the crash.

Fans try to identify the driver behind Norris’ F40

The viral Ferrari F40 crash triggered a whirlwind of fan reactions online, ranging from shock and speculation to light-hearted humor. With Lando Norris seemingly uninvolved, fans began piecing together what could have happened. A user clarified that the Monaco crash wasn’t the same as the severe UK incident involving another Ferrari F40. “No, that’s a different crash. It was Lando’s friend who borrowed the car. The crash you are talking about was earlier this week in England by a mechanic,” the user out.

Some also pointed out that this accident was not as big as the UK one. “Thankfully, not as bad as the other one that happened in the last few days of which I’ve seen footage flying around. Does anyone know if Lando himself was at the wheel?” a user wrote. What was an even-odd coincidence confusing fans was another F40 crash. The incident occurred in Hertfordshire, England, where a car being driven by a mechanic during a maintenance check veered off the road. In stark contrast to Norris’ F40, this car suffered significant damage after rolling off the verge and hitting a lamp post. The coincidence of two Ferrari F40 crashes in such a short span has added to the buzz. It’s worth noting that the crash in the UK had fully destroyed the back of the F40.

Meanwhile, some fans matched the car’s Monaco registration plate, “8650,” to Norris’ F40. However, they rejected the notion that he was the driver because his presence in Dubai during the crash was confirmed. “People have pointed out it’s the same license plate. He could have sold it, but no one had said anything about that. Lando wasn’t driving it because he was in Dubai when it happened,” a user wrote. It’s worth noting that the McLaren driver was in Dubai since New Year’s Eve. He was spotted partying with Portuguese model Magui Corceiro and his friends. Their pictures fuelled the speculations that the two were dating.

Meanwhile, some fans also speculated that the viral crash video might be part of Norris’ content group, Quadrant. “In before a Quadrant video titled ‘I crashed Lando’s Ferrari.’” Notably, Quadrant is a lifestyle and entertainment brand co-founded by Lando Norris. They make appeals and manage athletes. Notably, they also make entertainment content related to vehicles. They have also competed in various esports tournaments like Fortnite and Halo.