Champion Norris dismisses 'party-boy' persona.

      Lando Norris has stated that the public perception of him partying since he became a world champion doesn’t accurately reflect his serious preparation for races. The McLaren driver has been seen socializing more often away from the track and spent some of his summer break with friends in Ibiza and Greece. However, Norris believes that appearances can be deceptive.

      "To claim that I was more focused or in the zone last year, I'd say it's nearly the opposite," he mentioned. "It’s just social media—what you see and what you choose to believe. Sometimes, it's even amusing to me, witnessing what people invent."

      "I was actually more focused and ready to dive back into things this year, even though there was less at stake compared to last year when I was contending for a championship."

      Norris insists that he still deserves to enjoy life as a typical 26-year-old when the chance arises. "I’m 26, I’m young, and I can go out and have a good time with my friends. I can meet people and experience life a little. I want to live a week of my life like a 26-year-old should."

      "The rest of my life is not normal."

      He also addressed the issue of being pursued by paparazzi, which he has previously called "violating." "I understand that this is the life I’ve chosen and it shouldn’t come as a surprise in the end," said Norris. "People might think I’m easing off, but that’s not the case at all."

      Norris also rejected assumptions based on a single social media moment during his break. "There’s one photo from a friend’s live stream where I looked drunk, even though I was actually very sober at that moment," he explained. "Then everyone online made it seem like I was completely out of it."

      "But I was just the opposite. That shows how easily people can create their own perceptions of the situation."