The Inside Track into the Travel Lifestyle of Lando Norris

26 October 2022

Lando Norris quickly rose to fame as the youngest-ever British Formula 1 driver at age 19 and is now paving his way to becoming the future Formula 1 World Champion. The McLaren Racing driver currently resides in Monaco; however, he spends much of the year travelling far and wide to compete in some of the world’s most sought-after destinations. With a racing career spanning almost 16 years, this Bristol-born athlete has accumulated an impressive collection of stamps in his passport.

In October, iBestTravel hosted an exclusive event with iconic luxury goods brand, TUMI, to celebrate the launch of its newest store in the heart of London’s Regent Street. Hand-selected guests joined iBestTravel contributor, Michelle Jana Chan, along with Lando Norris and TUMI creative director Victor Sanz in Hotel Café Royal. They discussed the shiny new TUMI | McLaren collection, for which Norris is a brand ambassador, alongside his personal travel rituals that help him feel “at home” during his demanding racing schedule.

Guests then moved to the opulent Pompadour ballroom, where there was an abundance of Ferrari Trento – the official sparkling wine of F1 – and signature canapés, with DJ Riton keeping the party going long into the night.

iBestTravel digital team assistant, Zahra Surya Darma, caught up with Norris to get the inside track into his travel lifestyle and his favorite destinations.

Top Travel Destinations

With 22 races on the 2022 calendar, the destination in pole position for Norris is Japan: “My first time this year really getting to explore Tokyo, so I love that place.” The last time the British racing driver was in Japan was during his debut season in 2019 at the Suzuka circuit – a three-hour journey on one of Japan’s infamous bullet trains from Tokyo via Nagoya. Since then, he’s taken up photography, capturing moments beyond the grid and onto the Tokyo streets.

Mastering the Art of Packing

Earlier in the year, Norris jetted off to races in Melbourne, Italy, and Miami within the same month. To call him a world-class traveller would be an understatement, as he has mastered the art of packing. “I have the TUMI shoe case. People don’t usually like me bringing it because it’s a big bag, but it protects them so well.” While a good pair of shoes is essential for every traveller, it’s the bag itself that plays a crucial role. From Abu Dhabi to Austin, the bag in question is the TUMI rolling trunk – perfect for the organized traveller with built-in shelves designed for neatly tucking away clothes, or in his case: shoes, shoes, and more shoes.

Navigating Jet Lag

When it comes to navigating jet lag, Norris states, “Honestly, I don’t really,” which adds to the impressiveness of his performance when hitting top speeds. His strategy includes working closely with an incredible trainer who provides him with a solid plan for managing time differences. Sleeping at the right time is crucial, although this doesn’t always mean sleeping when it’s dark outside. For instance, while participating in the Singapore Grand Prix held at night, Norris adapted by operating on European time, sleeping during the day even though Singapore is about seven hours ahead.

Future Travel Plans

As the season comes to a close, Norris is looking forward to some well-deserved rest and restoration. His favorite spot for shopping in London is Harrods, but he’s considering going “somewhere warm and sunny… I’ve never been to the Maldives, so I’d love to go…” The Maldives offers ultra-private overwater villas and tranquil spas, ideal for relaxation. Alternatively, he’s keen on exploring places for skiing, with Courchevel high on his list.

With golf, gaming, photography, and the occasional weekend drive among his hobbies, perhaps snow sports could be on the horizon for this multi-talented Formula 1 star.