“I want to get my mark down early - you don't want to be the person who gets rolled over

It is hard to know which of Lando Norris's hopes and dreams will prove most difficult to obtain.

- MATT VERRI

A first Formula One world title is an obvious target heading into the new season, one the bookmakers have him down as favourite to achieve. The odds of enjoying anonymity in a Finnish supermarket are, it transpires, slightly longer.

“I'm still searching for a place where there's no one,” Norris laughs. “I’m yet to find that place.”

We are sitting in McLaren’s Technology Centre, next to a sea of merchandise waiting to be signed, reflecting on the 25-year-old’s off-season. Social media footage posted by a fan over the winter of Norris browsing aisles in Finland, with an accompanying selfie, suggested there is work to do on the incognito front. “I've been to Finland for the last three or four years because it’s a lot quieter, it’s cold and it’s a nice place I can get pre-season started,” Norris says. “But this year I got recognised quite a bit more. It’s difficult but that's part of it. I don’t mind. Especially when it’s younger kids, it’s a cool thing to do.”

His options for an undisturbed break will diminish further if the next 10 months go to plan. The F1 season kicks off in Melbourne this weekend and Norris is the man many are backing to deny Max Verstappen a fifth straight title.

McLaren impressed in pre-season testing and, having finished last year so strongly, there is firm belief the team can kick on after winning their first constructors’ championship in 26 years.

“There's definitely the feeling of there shouldn't be any excuses,” Norris says. “In the past there has been and there could be, because we didn’t have everything in place that we needed. Even last year at the beginning, we were quite a long way off.

“We're excited to come into a season knowing we are competitive now. That's the first time I've been able to say that ever in my career. Exciting for me, exciting for everyone.”