Lando Norris left feeliing 'violated' after shocking paparazzi incident crosses the line

Reigning F1 champion Lando Norris has opened up about feeling “violated” after an incident with paparazzi, which he believes invaded his privacy.

Norris' popularity increased following his 2025 Drivers’ Championship victory, with the mainstream public becoming more aware of the Brit, while he also became the face of several brands.

The McLaren driver’s earning potential skyrocketed, but winning the championship also comes with its pitfalls.

In a recent interview with The Independent, Norris revealed that multiple attempts by paparazzi to photograph him left him feeling “like a loser”, as he would avoid going out for dinner to stay away from unwanted media attention, instead choosing to game.

Norris even detailed how he was chased through London for 40 minutes by members of the media while he was simply visiting a friend’s house for dinner.

“I am getting a bit older and I want to be able to go out,” Norris said.

“Last year, I would just game and feel like a loser, being in my own home. That’s not a bad thing. I would keep myself to myself and be disciplined.

“But now, instead of gaming until midnight, I will go out with my friends and have dinner until midnight. I have always enjoyed doing that, but now more of it is seen on social media, and there are more cameras.

“It is about experiencing life outside the world of Formula One, which I have the right to do.

“The next level is paparazzi waiting for you in places or tailing you. I drove to my friend’s house in London, and I knew a paparazzo was just following me the whole way. And following me through London for 40 minutes, just waiting to see who I was going to meet and where I was going.

“And that’s the first time where I started to feel a bit more violated in my life – that I can’t leave my hotel or house without someone trying to see every move I am doing.”

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Lando Norris: 'I won't accept people following me...'

The 26-year-old, who won his first race of 2026 at last week’s Hungarian Grand Prix, went on to explain how his private life doesn’t feel private at the moment.

“That is part of being a Formula One driver, but there are boundaries, and I won’t accept people following me,” he added.

Norris is currently enjoying a holiday with his friends and family during the F1 summer break, with the Brit explaining that he will be playing “a bit of golf and padel” to “try to lose a bit of weight” ahead of next month’s Dutch Grand Prix.

Norris sits fifth in the standings behind Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Lewis Hamilton and leader Kimi Antonelli.