While Lando Norris is locked in a fierce battle to secure his maiden Formula 1 world championship this weekend, the spotlight isn't solely on his performance on the track. The 26-year-old McLaren sensation has long captured public fascination with his colourful and often private romantic life, which has generated almost as many headlines as his racing prowess.
From Paddock Kisses to a Lie Detector Stunt
The Bristol-born driver's personal life has been a subject of intense speculation for years. Reports have swirled around everything from leaked Instagram messages inviting a Dutch model to McDonald's to steamy paddock kisses and rumours of 'many girlfriends'. This speculation reached a peak in May 2024 when Norris participated in a remarkable stunt for a Sky Sports special, submitting to a lie detector test.
During the segment, Norris was asked if he had a girlfriend, replying that he did not—a statement the polygraph indicated was truthful. When host Simon Lazenby then queried if he had 'many girlfriends', Norris answered 'yes', a response also deemed accurate. While such tests are widely regarded as pseudoscience, the moment fuelled the ongoing intrigue surrounding the star's off-track activities.
Confirming Romance with Portuguese Star Margarida Corceiro
Despite the test results, Norris has been consistently linked to Portuguese model and actress Margarida Corceiro, 23, since 2023. The pair were first spotted driving together in Norris's Fiat, and she was later photographed cheering him on at races alongside his family, sharing a kiss at events like the Hungarian Grand Prix in August.
However, Norris remained publicly silent about their relationship for over a year, a silence that persisted even after his famous F1 victory in the US, which Corceiro did not acknowledge online at the time. It wasn't until an interview with Vogue this autumn that the driver finally confirmed they were "very much together."
"We met a few years ago, but we were never really together,' he explained. 'Until more recently." He described Corceiro, who has 2 million Instagram followers and co-founded the eco-swimwear brand Missus, as "someone I can very much be myself with" and "very down to earth." He also humorously noted his mission to "get her into golf. She hates golf."
Past Relationships and the Scrutiny of Fame
Corceiro is not the first Portuguese model in Norris's life. He previously dated Luisinha Oliveira, with their relationship beginning in early 2022 and ending mutually in September of that year. That relationship was marred by severe online bullying directed at Oliveira, including death threats.
Norris spoke out forcefully at the time, condemning the "horrific" hate pages dedicated to her. "What I find the funniest in a way is people are actually spending their one life on Earth just sat behind a computer trying to ruin and bully someone," he stated, expressing frustration that "not enough gets done" to combat such abuse.
His love life has also seen brief, unconfirmed links to Ukrainian model Katerina Berezhna in late 2021 and Dutch model Randi Hartman in autumn 2022. The Hartman link emerged from leaked Instagram messages in which Norris invited her for McDonald's, messaging "Ordering McDonald’s come join" before later asking her to "please delete them haha" after they became public.
As Norris pushes for the ultimate prize in motorsport, his journey is a stark reminder of the intense personal scrutiny faced by modern sports stars, where victory lanes and private romances are both played out in the full glare of the public eye.
