So For Those Of You Who Don’t Know This Story, Here Goes. Apologies To Those Who Know It.

So for those of you who don’t know this story, here goes. Apologies to those who know it.

Back in 2019 when Lando first came into F1 it was easier to find articles about him as a kid. This seems to been lost to the ether now and I have zero memory where I read it.

Back in the mid 2010s Niki Lauda invited Jackie Stewart for dinner. He needed his opinion. Mercedes has identified George Russell as a huge up coming talent and they wanted to sign him as a junior, but Niki wanted to know what Jackie knew about him.

Sir Jackie was very complimentary about George but suggested to Lauda that there was another upcoming Brit he felt was more exciting and worth a look, Lando Norris.

Over the course of the meal (which with Niki was notoriously quick) they weighed up the pros and cons on both drivers, discussed their potential and agreed by the end of the meal it was in Mercedes best interest to approach BOTH drivers and offer them places. At this point it could be either/or and you didn’t want to pick the wrong one.

However by the time Mercedes approached Lando’s team, McLaren had beaten them to the punch. We will never know if Jackie had already given the Lando sales pitch to Ron Dennis as well by this point. (Yes it was Ron not Zak that brought Lando to McLaren).

The take from this is Sir Jackie Stewart has been team Lando for at least a decade. So when we talk about the weight of expectations Lando carries, it feels he literally wants to get this Driver’s Championship done in Jackie’s lifetime so his belief is justified. The fact Jackie clearly adores him is just a bonus. (I think Kimi might be next on the Sir Jackie project board by the looks of it😂).

(Side note - if you don’t already @norris.content on Instagram is well worth a follow. She is responsible for the video and picture).

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grid son? never heard of it that's his grid grandson he immediately ignored everyone after hearing Lando's there

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rifran

1 month ago

kid: "i like lando because he is kind and respectful for other people. your so kindness"

oscar: "i like your so kindness too"

lando: "oh yeah? well thank you oscar!"

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landoscar theyre so precious to me lando smile's so contagious i literally cannot stop smiling

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rifran

1 month ago

Everyone's so interested in the Merc cooling jacket at the drivers' parade lol Kimi's being poked like a stuffed toy

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they're like crows when they find a shiny object

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rifran

1 week ago

F1 Drivers on radio: You guys are ****ing ridiculous. This is bull****, I am sick and tired of all of you. This strategy is ****ing **** and I swear if this continues I'm going to ****ing crash this ****ing stupid *** ****ing car. I am this ****ing close to ****ing quitting. **** all of you.

F1 Drivers in Instagram posts: Not the best race today, disappointed with the results but we are steadily improving. Strategy was great and the pace was there, just need to get a bit more comfortable with the car and make some adjustments. Thanks to the team for your consistent effort. See you next weekend 🏁

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they suddenly become a polite cat *ahem* ferrari very valid though considering how they're doing

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rifran

1 month ago

This is brutal even for Redbull standards, 2 races in and they're already swapping??? Not officially confirmed but yet by Redbull though but is seemingly to be true

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formula 1 f1 red bull f1 yuki tsunoda red bull liam lawson

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rifran

2 weeks ago

HZOSJLHOSJSLZKSJ KIMI GOT POLE?!?!?! I SHOULD'VE WOKEN UP FOR THIS QUALI😭

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mercedes formula 1 f1 kimi antonelli miami gp 2025 aka12

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rifran

1 month ago

OH...MY FAVORITE DUO....HOW CAN U SEPARATE THEM😞💔

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OH MY SHAYLA who's gonna match their freak now 😞

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rifran

2 months ago

Thoughts on aus quali 25'

- Kimi & Ollie...I don't even need to say anything, I'm just sad for them. I swear someone had cursed Ollie or something cause nothing has been going his way for even a little this week

- Aston is cooked

- what happened to Ferrari??? If it wasn't for Charles & Lewis I doubt it would've gotten to where it is now

- Lando on pole <3333

- McLaren 1-2, just beaming with happiness rn

- Yuki, Carlos & Alex in top 10 is just *chef's kiss* it's beautiful.

In conclusion, this is a day of depression and happiness. One side of me is happy the other is depressed.

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formula 1 f1 aus gp 2025

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rifran

8 months ago

why are all these modern aus for the Odyssey set in a high school. where's the retelling where Odysseus is just a guy lost in an airport who keeps missing his connecting flights home due to a comical series of delays and disgruntled airline employees

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the odyssey I don't want it i NEED it someone make this happen

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rifran

2 weeks ago

These two women represent my state actually