The former teacher of newly crowned Formula One world champion Lando Norris has spoken of his immense pride, recalling the dedication and talent he witnessed in his ex-student from a young age.
From Schoolboy to World Champion
Lando Norris secured his first-ever F1 drivers' title by finishing third for McLaren at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The 26-year-old from Bristol, raised in Glastonbury, is now the eleventh British driver to win the prestigious motor racing crown. His victory prompted congratulations from around the world, including a social media post from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Norris's journey to the top began in karting at just seven years old. He spent nine years at the independent Millfield School in Somerset, joining the prep school in year two and moving to the senior school at age 13. He left in year 10 to fully commit to his racing career.
A Teacher's Fond Memories
John Bishop, who was Norris's housemaster in Great House during his time at the senior school, described the champion as a popular and polite student with a remarkable ability to balance his studies with a burgeoning motorsport schedule.
"I'm just really proud for him for his achievement. It's quite an incredible journey and it happens to very few people," Mr Bishop said. He noted that Norris's talent was identified early and carefully nurtured, a process he observed continuing with McLaren in recent years.
Mr Bishop's memories are of a sociable boy with a good sense of humour, who was "just one of the boys" but carried significant pressure. He became the Karting World Champion at 14 and later made history as the youngest British F1 driver at 19. "Winning the world championships for the karting was a really big one," the teacher recalled.
The Makings of a Champion
According to his former housemaster, even as a teenager, Norris displayed a mature and analytical approach that hinted at future greatness. He possessed a steely focus and an exceptional capacity for self-reflection.
"If he came back from a bad race weekend you would kind of know because he was focusing on it, thinking about it and analysing it," Mr Bishop explained. "That ability to analyse and self-reflect and to look for ways of improving... has probably helped him reach this pinnacle."
He managed a gruelling schedule with little downtime, constantly learning from his experiences. "He seemed to have his feet really firmly on the ground," Mr Bishop added, expressing hope to one day meet his former pupil again to congratulate him personally and hear his memories of school.
As the F1 world celebrates a new British champion, the story of Lando Norris serves as a powerful testament to the combination of innate talent, unwavering dedication, and the supportive foundations laid during his formative years.
