Lando Norris has hinted that his future in motorsport may eventually extend well beyond Formula 1, admitting that the idea of competing in the Indianapolis 500 — and perhaps even chasing the legendary Triple Crown — is not something he would rule out.
Following the path of Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen
Fernando Alonso helped reopen that door nearly a decade ago, and Max Verstappen has recently reinforced the trend. After years in which Formula 1 drivers appeared to focus exclusively on the pinnacle of single-seater racing while largely ignoring other top-tier motorsport categories, attitudes now seem to be shifting.
Max Verstappen’s recent Nürburgring showcase, combined with Fernando Alonso’s remarkable versatility in switching between Formula 1, IndyCar, endurance racing, and even the Dakar Rally, appears to have inspired a new generation of drivers to think beyond the F1 paddock.
The latest star to show genuine interest in motorsport outside Formula 1 is reigning world champion Lando Norris. After retiring early from the Canadian Grand Prix due to a technical issue, the British driver flew to Indianapolis, where the latest edition of the iconic Indy 500 had just concluded.
Norris visited to meet the McLaren team that had competed in the prestigious American event and to see the legendary Borg-Warner Trophy in person — one of the most famous prizes in global motorsport.
Never say never
Acting as Norris’ guide was Tony Kanaan, the former IndyCar driver who now serves as McLaren’s team principal in the series and who famously won the Indianapolis 500 in 2013.
“Race in the Indy 500? You never know. I don’t want to say no,” Lando Norris said – “I definitely want to try things outside Formula 1. I love Formula 1 more than anything else, but at the same time I love everything. I love motorcycles, I love rallying, I love IndyCar — basically, I love racing in general. Whether that’s the Indianapolis 500 or IndyCar overall.”
When it was pointed out to him that McLaren could theoretically offer him the perfect platform to chase the Triple Crown — given the team’s presence in both IndyCar and the World Endurance Championship — Norris suggested he would not completely dismiss the idea of following a path similar to the one Fernando Alonso once pursued.
“I’ve won in Monaco, so the first part is done,” Norris joked to journalists in Indianapolis – “I’ve completed the first part of the challenge, now there are still two to go,” he added, referring to the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I’ve never really thought about trying to win the Triple Crown, but now I’ve already ticked one of the boxes. It’s a warm-up for everything else,” he said with a smile.
“Seeing Fernando try it and things like that always makes it more appealing. So, you never know. I’d love to try. Maybe not a real race for now, but even just doing a few laps here in an IndyCar would be amazing.”
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown may want to keep those comments in mind. In motorsport history, only Graham Hill has ever completed the Triple Crown by winning the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
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