How Lando beat demons to be world champ

NEWLY crowned Formula One world champion Lando Norris 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.

- GILES SHELDRICK

Only then did he get a kiss from proud girlfriend, Portuguese model Magui Corceiro, 23.

Bristol-born Lando, 26, sealed his win after a nail-biting third-placed finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix before sobbing in his McLaren car as the enormity of his achievement 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.

In a sport with few friendships, he is a popular figure with his fellow drivers and is particularly close to his former team-mate Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen.

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

Struggle

The outwardly cheerful racer, who was raised in Glastonbury, Somerset, revealed he suffered from depression and anxiety after making his bow in the big time in 2019.