Lando Norris made his childhood dream a reality at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when a hard-earned podium finish secured the 2025 F1 World Championship title. As well as the euphoria and relief felt by the McLaren driver, his family and his friends trackside, a quiet corner of Somerset, England – where Norris went to school – beamed with its own pride over the completion of a special journey…
Norris’ trophy-filled school days
Born in Bristol to British father Adam and Belgian mother Cisca on November 13, 1999, Norris spent his education at the nearby Millfield Prep School and Millfield School, where he carefully balanced studies with a developing karting career that took him across the UK and Europe through the 2000s and 2010s.
“Almost straight away he was coming back with trophies,” Dan Close, who taught Norris at the time and is now Millfield Prep School’s Deputy Head of Operations, tells F1.com. “He was quite shy to begin with, and he didn’t really want his trophies presented in assembly – maybe because they were taller than he was, thinking about these great big things in motor racing!
“Interestingly, one of Lando’s Year 3 teachers wrote in one of his reports that if he didn’t want to be presented for anything and wanted to remain anonymous, maybe he had a position as the ‘Stig’ [on British motoring television show Top Gear]. That was when he was eight years old.
“Apart from that, he just got stuck into everything. He played some rugby, some hockey, some cricket, and he got involved in all the bits and pieces that go with school life.
“His family were very good as well, working with us in terms of him being away from school, and making sure he got all the work that he needed to catch up on, because obviously it’s never a done deal that you’re going to rise to the heights that he’s risen to.
“His mum would often stay in Somerset while Lando and his dad were off doing their thing, and that’s not easy, so I love the way that he was really thankful [after winning the title]. It’s refreshing that it was also about other people, rather than all about himself, because he recognises that this is not something you can do alone.”
Staying true to his core values
Indeed, what Close and his Millfield colleagues have taken plenty of satisfaction from is Norris never appearing to let the success – and fame that came with it – go to his head while he impressively worked his way through the motorsport ranks.
Norris went from karting World Champion in 2014 (a year before he left Millfield) to full-time McLaren F1 racer in 2019, via wins and titles in a host of single-seater championships, but Close sees the same person at the end of it all.
“I suppose what we’re most proud of as a school is that Lando’s remained authentic,” he adds. “It’s one of our school values, to be authentic. He said he wanted to win the title his way, and we feel he has done that.
“He doesn’t seem to have changed a bit, and again, I think a lot of that comes from his mum and dad. All four of their children have been through the school – his older brother and the two girls – and they’ve always kept them very grounded.
“The man we see on the F1 podium today has still got that sort of glint in his eye – and the cheeky smile – he had when he first joined us at school.
“He’s just a good lad who never got arrogant about what he was doing. He always seemed to hide his light under a bushel, if anything, and didn’t seek the limelight in that regard, but it’s all paid off in the end.
“He’s managed to live his dream, and that’s how he came in at Millfield. His Year 3 teacher said, ‘When you’re World Champion, I hope you remember who taught you!’, and I’m sure that he’s kept those values. We’re just enormously proud of him.”
Appreciating the highs and the lows
Due to the timing of the season finale and the latest school term ending, Millfield’s community could not celebrate together when Norris crossed the line in Abu Dhabi and sealed the deal, but Close expects a suitable ceremony to be held in the New Year.
Not only will that landmark title be recognised, but also the trials and tribulations experienced along the way, as touched on by Close above and as spoken about by Norris at length in the past – from mental health struggles to the challenges that come with delivering under extreme pressure.
“As a community, we haven’t really had a chance to reflect and celebrate, but I guarantee you that when we come back from the Christmas holiday, the first assembly of the year will centre on Lando and his achievements,” says Close.
“We’ll talk about how he’s had to be resilient and bounce back through the highs and lows, through the things that have gone right and the things that have gone wrong, along with the dedication and the perseverance, because it doesn’t come without effort.
“I think that’s the message that we’ll pass on to the children. We’ve got a fine tradition at Millfield of producing some worldclass sporting people, as well as in other areas, but the one thing we often talk to the children about is coping with failure, understanding that you’re going to learn from that, and that it’s not the end of the world.
“If you’re true to yourself, if you push on and you believe enough, that will help you part of the way, and then with a bit of talent and a few bits of luck, who knows?”
As for what else can be expected, Close adds with a smile: “I’m sure our catering department will have a ‘Lando lunch’ as well, where they all wear orange or papaya, and maybe we’ll serve the children with papaya fruit, because obviously that’s the McLaren colour.
“And, just reflecting on it, the main pathway from our reception and dining block to the main school block is called the ‘M5’, because that’s where all the traffic is, and that’s the big road in the southwest – but maybe we should change it to ‘Lando Way’ or something.
“Clarks Village, which is the local shopping outlet, actually added a ‘Lando Lane’, so they’ve stolen a march on that one! But we’ve got a big banner with Lando’s name on it and everything he’s achieved, and we’re going to have to change the banner to ‘2025 World Champion’, which is pretty exciting.”
Inspiring the next generations
With the dust settling on Norris’ success, Close is already looking forward to watching his former student write the next chapter in his life and career, while continuing to inspire the next generations that pass through Millfield’s doors.
“The children in the school just love to see one of ours having some success,” Close comments, admitting they would go “absolutely nuts” if Norris manages to pop back for a visit. “We had Rory Gibbs, a gold medallist at the Paris Olympics in rowing, return to the school last year, as well as James Guy, who was an Olympic champion swimmer.
“They see these people come through the school and they know that it is possible [to reach those heights], because only a few years ago, Lando was sitting on the floor in assembly in the same spot that they are now. I think that’s the most inspiring thing.
“Ultimately, as an establishment, we are so proud of Lando and his family for everything they’ve managed to achieve, and we wish him every future success. It’s going to be amazing to see the number one on his car next year. When you know somebody and you’ve had some investment in their life, you just want them to do well.
“I, for one, will be voting for him for BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and we’ll be encouraging everybody else in the school to do the same. That’s the next thing. It’s strong competition, but that would be the cherry on the top…”
