How Lando beat his demons on the race circuit

NEWLY crowned Formula One world champion Lando Norris first celebrated his stunning rise to the summit of motorsport with his mum and dad, after their years of sacrifices paved the road to his success.

- BY GILES SHELDRICK Chief Reporter

Only then did he get a smacker on the lips from proud girlfriend, Portuguese model Magui Corceiro.

Bristol-born Lando, 26, sealed his win with a nail-biting third-place finish in Abu Dhabi before sobbing in his McLaren car as the enormity of what he had achieved sunk in.

His emotional reunion with his parents - retired pensions tycoon Adam and his Belgian wife Cisca - was the moment Lando had dreamed of since he started his racing career in karting aged eight.

But, plagued by self-doubt and mental health battles that sucked the enjoyment out of life, he thought the glory days might never happen.

The speed demon, raised in Glastonbury, Somerset, told the Express he suffered from depression and anxiety after making his bow in the big time in 2019.

Impact

Coming clean about his struggles was the best decision he ever made, he added, and he encouraged others to do the same. "I'm glad that I did," he said. "The good thing is seeing the reaction from people and my fans.

"Seeing the messages and how they respond to me opening up about it is what makes it worth it.