Norris names MotoGP legend Rossi as idol after Silverstone encounter

  • Published on 08 Sep 2019 09:30
  • comments 0
  • By: Coilin Higgins

McLaren's Lando Norris has named multiple MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi as his biggest idol, after meeting the two wheel legend during the recent MotoGP British Grand Prix at Silverstone a couple of weeks ago.

Norris said that he loved watching Rossi growing up and always saw him as an idol, and also admitted that he did not feel that he idolised any other driver on four wheels the same way.

For this weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Norris is sporting a new helmet and racing boot design, heavily inspired from Rossi's own famous blue and green MotoGP helmet design.

"My hero was Valentino Rossi." Norris said. "There's people I look up to {in car racing}, but he was my idol. A couple of weeks ago I met him in Silverstone at the MotoGP.

"I literally only met him for five minutes, nothing more than that. I wouldn't say I was starstruck, but I was very excited. He was the guy I was watching since I was a kid."

Norris also remarked how his racing career started on two wheels as opposed to four, as opposed to how Rossi started on four wheels and progressed to two

"I was on two wheels before I was on four wheels," Norris added. "I was doing, like, 50 or 60 cc motocross, and I loved doing it. But as soon as I tried karting, I fell in love more with that. 

"When I spoke to Rossi, he was the opposite. He started in karting when he was seven, and he loved doing it, but when he tried motorbikes he had more love and more passion for doing that."

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team McLaren
  • Points 645
  • Podiums 13
  • Grand Prix 106
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Nov 13 1999 (24)
  • Place of b. Glastonbury, GB
  • Weight 64 kg
  • Length 1.7 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar