Lando Norris on Valentino Rossi: “Together in a McLaren at Le Mans – I’d love to”

Lando Norris has admired Italian motorcycling star Valentino Rossi ever since he was a little lad. “He was my idol.” At Monza in 2019, Norris even raced with a Rossi-style helmet design – after seeking permission from the motorcycling legend himself.

The two have met up time and again over the years, most recently at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. There, Formula 1 champion Norris revealed: “My career started on two wheels, but then I had a nasty crash, and my parents decided – karting would be better after all.”

Nine-time motorcycling world champion Rossi now competes in car racing – with great success. Norris hopes: “Racing alongside Valentino at Le Mans – I’d love to. I’d be all for it.” After all, McLaren will be fielding a hypercar in the World Endurance Championship from 2027.

Rossi commented on the prospect of appearing together at the Le Mans classic: “I asked him, but those Formula 1 lads are always so busy.”

Norris continued: “We’ve got so many races these days. But now that McLaren has a Le Mans car, maybe next year – hmm, no, not next year; maybe in a few years – I’d really like that. It would be an honour for me to compete at Le Mans with Valentino.”

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Rossi promises: “I’ll wait for Lando. If we can make it happen, it would be fabulous. It would be great fun.”

Rossi competed in the endurance classic at La Sarthe with BMW in 2024 and 2025. On both occasions, his car failed to finish.