Lando Norris Visits Former School After Barcelona Test

Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Reigning Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris paid a visit to his former school on Monday, just days after completing pre-season testing in Barcelona with McLaren, in an appearance described by the school as a deeply inspiring experience for its students.

Norris made the trip following last week’s three-day test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where McLaren ran its MCL40 for the first time ahead of the team’s attempt to defend both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. From the circuit, Norris returned to the UK to visit Chew Stoke Church School, the primary school he attended before embarking on his journey toward professional motorsport.

Upon arrival, Norris was greeted by the entire school community, with pupils lining up and waving flags as the 26-year-old exited his vehicle. The welcome set the tone for a visit that combined celebration, reflection, and direct engagement with students and staff.

After taking photos with numerous pupils, Norris participated in a whole-school assembly. During the session, he spoke about the importance of perseverance, setting clear goals, and maintaining motivation through challenges, drawing on his own experiences from childhood through to becoming a Formula 1 world champion.

We are so incredibly grateful that Lando made a special visit to Chew Stoke.

It is an experience the children and the whole school community will not forget.

The assembly concluded with a short question-and-answer segment, allowing students to ask Norris directly about his career, his experiences in Formula 1, and the mindset required to succeed at the highest level of sport. Two pupils then read a poem written in his honour before presenting him with gifts on behalf of the school.

Following the main event, Norris continued his visit by touring every classroom. He answered further questions from students, signed a variety of items, and spent time speaking individually with pupils and teachers. For the school, the opportunity for such personal interaction with a former student who has reached the pinnacle of global motorsport was seen as particularly meaningful.

To mark the occasion, Norris left a gift for every student, a gesture that further underscored the significance of the visit for the school community. He was also presented with a certificate confirming his status as an honorary member of the Chew Stoke Church School Society, recognising both his achievements and his continued connection to the school.

The school later shared details of the visit on its official Facebook page, reflecting on the broader impact Norris’s presence had on pupils and staff alike. The message emphasised the motivational value of seeing a former student return as a world champion, reinforcing the belief that ambition and dedication can lead to extraordinary outcomes.

We are certain it has inspired our pupils to aim high, dream big, and remember that anything is possible.

Norris’s visit came at a pivotal moment in the build-up to the new Formula 1 season. Having secured the world championship, his off-track engagements now carry additional weight, highlighting the role of leading drivers as ambassadors for the sport and as role models beyond the paddock.

For Chew Stoke Church School, the visit served as a powerful reminder of the potential pathways that can emerge from a strong educational foundation. For Norris, returning to the place where his early education began offered a moment of reflection on a journey that has taken him from a small village school to the summit of Formula 1.