The energy at the American School of Bahrain (ASB) peaked last Monday when Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris surprised students with a visit to share his journey.
Fresh off his championship season, Norris skipped the media-trained talk and gave the kids a real sense of what it takes to reach the top. He reflected on his early days, the challenges of professional racing, and showed that champions, more so than anyone, face nerves, mistakes, and the need to unwind with friends.
Norris was rather open about his timeline to success. He reminded students that while they see him lifting trophies now, his journey started just where they are. He began racing at six after seeing podium celebrations on TV. It took him twenty years of hard work to finally achieve his World Championship goal. He told the crowd that dreams don’t come true overnight; they require determination and sacrifice.
For him, that meant spending eight years with McLaren before everything came together. Lando encouraged students to explore various interests while young, sharing that he actually loved motorbikes before he ever tried a go-kart.
In a candid moment, Lando talked about his biggest challenges, saying they weren’t his driving skills. He explained that driving a race car is now the easy part. The real hurdle has been the mental and emotional pressures of the sport. “I’ve had to learn to believe in myself beyond just having confidence,” he admitted.
He openly discussed his self-doubts and how those mental struggles were his biggest obstacles. By recognising his need to change his mindset, he was able to perform better on the track. His message was powerful: “Even the fastest person in the world has to focus on mental strength.”
When a student asked if he felt scared before a race, Lando explained that while he doesn’t often feel scared, he does feel nervous every time. He told the students gathered at the ASB’s court that feeling nervous is normal and shouldn’t be feared.
Lando said, “The best way to handle those nerves is through preparation. Doing homework and being ready naturally builds confidence.” However, he stressed that everyone is different. He urged the kids to discover what specifically makes them happy and ready, rather than just mimicking others.
Norris stressed the importance of the people around him. “No one succeeds alone,” he said. Whether it’s his trainer advising him on sleep or friends helping him relax after a race, his support system is crucial to his success. He shared part of his routine, mentioning that when he goes home, he spends several days just being a normal person with friends.
He tries to forget he’s a race car driver for a while to recover. He encouraged the young racers in the crowd to find a group that challenges and supports them, noting that sharing the journey makes hard work easier.
One of the most important lessons Lando shared was about the necessity of failure. He admitted he used to fear making mistakes, but he later realised that losses teach more than wins. He told the students that he wasn’t the best when he first entered Formula 1.
It took him seven years of trying and learning. He encouraged students to strive for perfection but not to fear failing or making mistakes, as those are essential for true improvement.
As Norris and the Mumtalakat-owned McLaren Racing Team gear up for a title-defending new season, he gave the ASB a preview of the team’s 2026 F1 car – the MCL40 – which was unveiled during a major event at the Bahrain International Circuit.
With new regulations and dramatic changes brought into the sport this year, the McLaren champion told F1TV that the new cars are “[…] good fun, because it’s more power and less grip to a certain extent […] Which means you’re hustling, you’re having to control the car a bit more, fight the car at times more.”
READ MORE: All You Need To Know About Bahrain Grand Prix 2026
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