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Lando Norris Reveals Shocking Childhood Dream That Nearly Took Him Away from F1

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Samriddhi Jaiswal | Last updated Aug 18, 2025 5:30 AM ET

Lando Norris is one of Formula 1’s brightest stars, but the McLaren driver has revealed that he once dreamed of a very different motorsport path, one that could have taken him away from F1 entirely.

In a candid reflection on his childhood, Norris admitted that while he eventually found his way into karting and cars, his first real love was motocross and motorbikes. It was a passion that came before Formula 1, and one that, in his words, nearly set him on an entirely different career.

“I did horse riding, I hated that,” Norris recalled with a laugh. “Quad biking, my dad sold it, he said it was stolen, but really he sold it because it was too dangerous. Then I went to motocross. I loved dirt motorsport before F1. That’s actually what I wanted to do before everything. But then motorbikes were where a lot of my love started.”

For fans used to seeing Norris in McLaren orange, it’s a surprising revelation. The 25-year-old has already become one of the most popular and marketable figures on the F1 grid, a race winner and constant contender at the sharp end. Yet, at one point in his life, the thrill of dirt bikes and motocross jumps held his imagination more than the pursuit of lap times on asphalt.

The story paints a picture of a childhood driven by speed in every form. Norris may have hated horse riding, but from the moment he got onto a quad bike and later motocross bikes, it was clear he was drawn to adrenaline.

His father, Adam Norris, played a crucial role in guiding that passion, sometimes pulling the brakes, quite literally, when he thought the dangers outweighed the rewards.

The turning point came when Norris transitioned from two wheels to four, taking up karting seriously and finding himself on the same path that has produced many F1 champions.

But his love for motocross has never gone away, and even now, he often talks about his passion for other forms of motorsport.

It’s not the first time an F1 star has revealed they might have ended up in another sport. Lewis Hamilton himself has spoken about his early interest in soccer and even music.

But for Norris, the lure of motocross feels especially significant; it was his “first love” in motorsport, one that could have seen him chasing titles in dirt racing rather than in the pinnacle of single-seater racing.

For fans, it adds another layer to the driver they see on Sundays. Norris may be one of F1’s most exciting young talents, but behind the helmet is someone who once dreamed of dirt tracks instead of grand prix circuits. And while he ultimately chose Formula 1, Norris’ admission is a reminder that even the sport’s biggest names could have taken very different paths.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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