Lando Norris, the McLaren driver and leader of the F1 2025 Championship, has reportedly been engaged in secret testing of World Rally Championship (WRC) vehicles.
This revelation comes nearly a year after it was made public that an active Formula 1 driver had been testing rally cars away from the Formula One circuit.
Lando Norris Impresses in Secret WRC Tests
With additional reporting by Thomas Maher
Last summer, Peter Windsor, the former Williams team manager, disclosed that an anonymous Formula 1 driver was undertaking rally car tests “in massive secrecy,” showcasing impressive skills on the stages.
This disclosure led to a frenzied investigation to identify the mystery rally tester, with reigning four-time World Champion Max Verstappen quickly being ruled out. Many speculated that Valtteri Bottas, the previous Mercedes driver, was the one in question due to his participation in the 2019 Arctic Lapland Rally using a Ford Fiesta WRC.
Further Developments in the Rally Testing Mystery
However, Bottas sought to dispel the rumors during a media conference at last year’s Dutch Grand Prix, asserting that it was “someone else” who was testing rally cars.
Furthermore, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was seen driving a rally car in the Fafe region of Portugal, a notable WRC stage, right before the F1 2025 pre-season testing commenced in February.
In a recent update, Windsor has confirmed that Norris is the mystery driver, stating that the 25-year-old has demonstrated astonishing skill in WRC cars.
Norris’s Connection to Rallying and Future Prospects
On a recent episode of the Cameron Cc: YouTube channel, Windsor mentioned, “I know Lando is a serious WRC fan, and I hope I’m not disclosing too much when I say he’s out in WRC cars and he’s unbelievably good.”
While Norris’s McLaren team did not respond to PlanetF1.com’s inquiries for comments, the specific brands of cars he has been testing remain undisclosed. Currently, three manufacturers—Toyota, Hyundai, and Ford—compete at the premier level of the WRC.
Despite the potential for F1 contract restrictions against drivers engaging in risky activities, Norris may be participating in WRC tests privately. He is known to have a good relationship with Oliver Solberg, son of 2003 WRC champion Petter Solberg, who is leading the WRC2 championship.
Other F1 Drivers with Rallying Experience
In motorsport, it is not uncommon for F1 drivers to experience rally racing. Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 World Champion, made the switch to WRC after leaving Ferrari in 2009. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso participated in the Dakar Rally during his two-year F1 hiatus, expressing a desire to return to that event when his F1 career concludes.
Amidst recent activities, Verstappen’s father, Jos, achieved a class victory in his European Rally Championship debut on the very same day his son triumphed at the F1 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.
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