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Motorsport
Motorsport
Alex Harrington

Lando Norris wrestles 740hp McLaren around wet Nurburgring

There are certain circuits every racing driver knows by reputation before they even set foot on the asphalt, and the Nurburgring Nordschleife often sits at the very top of that list.

Lando Norris recently completed his first lap of the Green Hell during a short break in the Formula 1 calendar, and McLaren has now released the onboard footage.

It is a six-minute ride-along with the reigning world champion that is equally as hilarious as it is genuinely impressive as he pilots a road-legal McLaren 750S, weaving his way between other drivers also trying their luck on the legendary track.

Both Norris and his team-mate Oscar Piastri were attending a McLaren filming day, with the duo eventually turning their attention to some exploratory laps. With a V8 producing 740 hp and 590 lb ft of torque at their disposal and 60mph dispatched in just 2.7 seconds, the wet track proved to be quite the challenge for the Touristenfahrten private session.

"How many cars are there?! Bloody hell," Norris laughed as he raced cars from the circuit's home country. "Can't get beat by a BMW, not letting that happen. Oh, I'm way quicker," he said before spotting a faster car in his mirrors. "My first time! Sorry!" he shouted.

"Oh, McLaren's got too much power. McLaren's got too much power," he continued as the car's tyres wrestled against the greasy asphalt before he was met with a Skoda.

"Holy moly. There's a Skoda! Come on, what a legend. Driving a Skoda out on track, what a geezer." As he accelerated past on the straight: "You're my hero!"

The simulator, specifically iRacing, had been instrumental in preparing him for this moment, albeit not quite practising in the same league of car: "I don't know how much you need to brake for some of these corners. I've only really driven this in a Mazda MX-5 online."

The Nordschleife has exploded in popularity recently thanks to Max Verstappen's exploits. The Dutchman raced in front of a sellout crowd at the Nurburgring 24 Hours. While his car suffered a race-ending mechanical issue, he showed immense performance.

Whether Norris pursues the same racing licence eventually is yet to be seen, but this will have certainly put the idea in people's minds.

His driving was far from record-breaking, but this is an F1 champion navigating tourist traffic in a 740 horsepower supercar. It's one hell of a watch.

Photos from Monaco GP - Thursday

53 Formula 1 A general view of the harbour

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Mika Häkkinen, McLaren M2B

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Lily Collins

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

George Russell, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Lando Norris, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Car of Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

George Russell, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Alexander Albon, Williams

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Audi front wing detail

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Car of Carlos Sainz, Williams

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Mattia Binotto, Audi

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Dan Towriss, Cadillac CEO and his wife Cassidy

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Mechanics work on the car of Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

George Russell, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Lando Norris, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Lando Norris, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Emerson Fittipaldi

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Car of Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Alexander Albon, Williams

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

George Russell, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Cadillac front wing detail

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Frederic Vasseur, Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Car of Mechanics work on the car of Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Automobile Club de Monaco mascot

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Lily Collins, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday

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