Lando Norris steals the spotlight with Valentino Rossi at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
Lando Norris was one of the headline attractions at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, but his Friday appearance produced an unforgettable moment that quickly went viral among Formula 1 fans. The newly crowned 2026 Formula 1 World Champion delighted the crowd throughout the event, although one ambitious drifting attempt ended with a mixture of laughter and mild embarrassment.
Making his first appearance at Goodwood since securing his maiden Formula 1 world title at the end of last season, the McLaren driver shared the stage with one of his lifelong heroes, Valentino Rossi. The two stars were among the main attractions of the famous Festival of Speed, creating one of the most memorable moments of the weekend.
A Nissan Silvia, plenty of smoke… and an unexpected stop
During the Monster Energy showcase, a brand that has sponsored both Lando Norris and Valentino Rossi for many years, the British driver climbed behind the wheel of a Nissan Silvia S13 to entertain spectators with an energetic drifting demonstration along Goodwood’s legendary hillclimb course.
Everything appeared to be going perfectly at first. After producing thick clouds of tire smoke with an impressive burnout over the opening section of the course, Lando Norris spotted a small paved area behind the Duke of Richmond’s house and decided to attempt a spectacular donut for the fans.
Unfortunately for the McLaren star, things did not go quite according to plan.
Misjudging the available space, Lando Norris drifted beyond the edge of the tarmac and became stuck in the gravel, forcing marshals to step in before he could continue his demonstration. The amusing incident can be seen in the video below, starting at approximately the 0:50 mark.
Lando Norris laughs off the incident
After climbing out of the car, Lando Norris was greeted with a warm round of applause from the enthusiastic Goodwood crowd, who appreciated both the entertainment and the driver’s sense of humor.
The Formula 1 World Champion admitted that the incident was a little embarrassing, but he quickly turned it into a joke while explaining that Formula 1 drivers rarely have the opportunity to practice this kind of driving.
“In Formula 1, the rules are far too restrictive and we’re never really allowed to have fun. In F1 we can never do burnouts,” Lando Norris said. “So maybe I need a bit more practice. I got stuck in the grass… it was pretty embarrassing!”
Despite the unexpected ending to his drifting display, the moment only added to the entertainment at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where fans once again witnessed the relaxed and playful side of one of Formula 1’s biggest stars. Meanwhile, the Festival of Speed continues throughout the weekend, with live coverage available for both Saturday’s and Sunday’s events.
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