Lando Norris has shared his ambition to compete in legendary endurance races like Le Mans and Daytona once his Formula 1 journey comes to an end — following the path recently taken by Max Verstappen. The McLaren star revealed he “would love to” pursue opportunities in top sportscar events after his time in single-seaters.
Two weeks ago, Verstappen participated in the Nürburgring Endurance Series, driving a Porsche GT4 to earn the licence required for GT3 racing. He is now set to make his GT3 debut at the Nordschleife this weekend, racing a Ferrari 296 — a clear sign of his passion for long-distance motorsport.
Speaking ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Lando Norris said that sportscar racing has always appealed to him, and that he could see himself on that grid one day.
“I would love to,” said Norris, who has already contested the Daytona 24 Hours, doing it with Fernando Alonso and Phil Hanson in 2018 a year before joining F1.
McLaren’s WEC Entry Could Open the Door
Norris’s transition to endurance racing could be a smooth one, as McLaren is preparing an entry for the 2027 World Endurance Championship, which includes a shot at overall victory in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“I saw Zak [Brown, McLaren CEO] spoke about it the other day with Le Mans as well, with McLaren going to Le Mans. I would love it. I’m not going to be in Formula 1 forever. I want to go and do other things and live my life – try other things, you know.”
“I’ll enjoy my time in Formula 1. Whether it’s a mix at some point of also doing some of the other races, I’m not sure. Or it might be when I retire from F1 that I try to do other things. I loved doing Daytona. I did it with Fernando, so it was a cool experience for me at the time. But whether it’s Le Mans or Daytona or Sebring, whatever it might be. I want to go do other things. I think the main thing I probably will never do is oval racing, just not for me.”
Focus Remains on 2025 F1 Title Battle
For now, Norris insists that any plans beyond F1 will have to wait. With McLaren fighting at the front and a title battle against team-mate Oscar Piastri on the horizon, his attention remains firmly on Formula 1.
“I respect Max for going and doing such a thing, he’s in a much easier position to go and do those things,” added Norris.
“If he’s fighting for a championship and those kinds of things, it probably wouldn’t look the best. But he’s in a position where he’s also won four world championships. So, it’s a bit of an easier time than maybe what me and Oscar do at the minute.
“But certainly in my future, I’ll go and do it. Because I think I have the same want and desire as Max to go and do other things and just go do whatever I enjoy.”
With McLaren’s endurance program on the horizon and Norris’s clear desire to explore new racing challenges, fans could soon see the Briton chasing glory at Le Mans, Daytona, or Sebring after his F1 chapter concludes.
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