Lando Norris on hats and bromance

For the drivers, the Russian Grand Prix is arguably the most laid-back race weekend of the year. The commute to the track is easy, the weather is placid and the circuit isn't particularly challenging. Additionally, all media and PR duties are greatly reduced.

With the Singapore GP held just a week earlier, it's easy for many F1 folk to find an excuse to skip the hassle of obtaining visas and transiting through Moscow to get to this remote part of the world.

Thursday interview slots to speak with F1 drivers come with strict time constraints, but half-way through having Lando Norris answering your questions, F1 Racing enquires if our time is up. "You're already five minutes over," says McLaren's genial press attache Martyn Pass, "but it's fine, you can continue..."

We carry on chatting for at least another ten minutes and Norris is happy to answer every single question. It's remarkable to think he has only just turned 20.

But his boyish demeanour means he has soaked up the pressure and intensity of Formula 1 with ease and has regularly impressed, outqualifying his more experienced team-mate Carlos Sainz on numerous occasions this year.

Without doubt, the youngster will be a force to be reckoned with in Formula 1 in years to come and, as his first answer proves, he's eyeing up wins and championships in the not-too-distant future...

Is it frustrating that the guy who came third in F2 last year [Alex Albon] is in one of the top three teams before you?
Alex Butters, United Kingdom

Not really. McLaren has always been one of the teams I've wanted to be with. It was the team I supported more than any other when I was growing up. So, I'm very happy with where I am. Of course, I would like to win races but what I'm hoping is that in a few years we can win races and maybe championships. I think that would be more rewarding because we would have had to work hard to get to that point. I'm also very happy for Alex...

F1R: He's your hero.

LN: Yes he is. He was. Not any more, now we're rivals. But he's such a nice guy, he deserves it and was doing well in the first half of the season. He was thrown in against Max [Verstappen] who is a pretty insane driver, so I feel sorry for him in his first year to go up against Max.

What is the strangest thing you have ever been asked to sign?
Laura Anderson, United Kingdom

In Japan last year I went to a Korean restaurant and there was a wall of legendary F1 drivers who have eaten there, going back to Prost and Senna from the 1980s. Before I left, I was asked by the owner if I could sign his car. Then this old guy rocks up in this Ferrari and it's got a load of signatures on the door panel and inside. So, that was probably the weirdest - and coolest - thing to sign.

Has there ever been a moment during your racing career where you thought you couldn't get to where you are today? And now you're in F1, what is your next goal?
Lucy Cecil, United Kingdom

Yeah, every day before I was told I actually had an F1 drive. I always doubted it because there are only 20 drivers and they're all good.

F1R: How did you suppress the doubts?

LN: Because I had a lot of people telling me I could do it, even people in McLaren who believed in me.

What's your favourite TV show (besides Ted's Notebook)?
Jennifer Morehouse, Canada

What I've recently been watching is a show called Power but I don't have a favourite. My favourite movie is Austin Powers. But I don't have a favourite TV series, as we fly and travel so much I watch a lot.

Back when you were in the Ginetta Juniors, did you ever consider trying to progress to the BTCC, or was the aim always to go for F1?
Eddie Boshell, United Kingdom

No, F1 was always the goal. I would love to do a race in touring cars because it's just carnage and everyone smashes into each other. I do watch it occasionally and it's good racing, even at tracks where they can't overtake, they end up hitting each other to get past. It's fun to watch. A lot of people who watch it say it's a lot more exciting than other categories. It's not a formula car where you lose aero, it's just proper racing.

What's your personal record for nonstop online/simulator
 gaming (in hours and days)?
Stevo Eisele, Slovenia

In a day or days in a row? The most I probably did in a few days was close to 13 to 14 hours. Maybe 15 hours. I might stop for lunch - a very quick lunch - then go on the sim again. Some days I'd start at 10am and would continue to midnight or two in the morning. Those were long days - so that's probably the record.

Are you named after the Star Wars character?
Michael Gillespie, United Kingdom

No - end of. [Lando slams the card down on the table in mock fury.]

If you had to choose three different sectors to create a new circuit, what would they be?
Zacharie Duval, France

I want to say, Suzuka sector one, high speed, long-flowing corners. Then for sector three I'd definitely say Monaco, through the swimming pool section and the final few corners, I think that's pretty cool to have on the track. And sector two... maybe Singapore. Or Brazil - that would be a good combination.

If you could choose, would you never wear your Valentino Rossi hat again or never drink milk?
Billy Chambers, United Kingdom

I would say I would never wear my Valentino Rossi hat again. Milk is something I want to
 do, wearing a bright yellow hat everywhere is something I'm not so fussed about doing.

Hi Lando, I love the banter between you and Carlos Sainz. Did you just get on with each other straight away?
Lee Frarey, United Kingdom

It was around this time last year when we met for the first time and I think we pretty much got on. It didn't start as anything special, he's been in F1 for four years, and I'm really shy when I speak to new people, especially cool and well-known people like him. So, I was nervous initially, then we got to know each other after testing. Then we were more open to jokes and banter.

Lando, what current driver on the grid who doesn't sim race would you most like to race against on iRacing and why?
Scott Woodwiss, United Kingdom

Probably Sebastian Vettel because I've seen how terrible he is. I've seen him do a demo lap for F1 and he talks through a lap on a game and it was pretty awful. It's weird because it's the complete opposite when it comes to driving on a real track. But on a game, it's not one of his strengths. But for fun and moments of laughter, he's the driver I'd most like to play against.

What was your first driving experience?
Chris Gaiter, USA

I think it was a quad bike. Although I'm sure I sat on my dad's lap and steered a car around the farm I grew up on.

F1R: Did you ever roll the quad bike?

LN: No, but my dad sold it as I was about to roll it.

[At which point Max Verstappen walks past yelling something uncomplimentary.]

F1R: Are you going to respond to that?

LN: No, I'm sensible... [he says, trying not to laugh]

We all know that you are a fan of Valentino Rossi. How was your first MotoGP experience and how was it meeting him?
Niamh Kenny, United Kingdom

Do you know how you pronounce this name, Niamh? [We offer the correct pronunciation, "Neeve"] Damn, you know it! That's one thing that has blown my mind, getting told how to pronounce Niamh correctly for the first time. I don't understand it - there's an M in there and a H. What was the question?

Ah yes, Rossi. It was pretty awesome. It's been something I've been wanting to do, even before I started watching Formula 1. I really wanted to go to a MotoGP race, to get the chance to go and meet the guy who inspired me to go racing, design my helmet with the colours I do. To finally meet him was pretty cool. There are not many times when I'm speechless, but that was one of them.

Who is the nicest person in Formula 1 and why? It doesn't have to be a driver...
Craig Smith, United Kingdom

There are so many. I'm going to say performance engineer Jarv - Andrew Jarvis. If you write that up, then he'll be happy...

[Lando breaks away as Sebastian Vettel walks past. They shake hands and Lando congratulates Seb on his Singapore win]

F1R: I wanted you to ask him if he'd race you online?

LN: Yeah, glad he didn't hear us talking about him! [laughs]