SILVERSTONE, England — Expectations are high for Lando Norris to deliver a breakthrough victory Sunday in the British Grand Prix, his home race on the Formula 1 schedule.
Nowhere more so than in the Landostand.
Fans in McLaren orange and the luminous yellow of Norris’ helmet gathered for practice Friday in the new Landostand — actually a series of stands — around the outside of one of Silverstone Circuit’s most famous corners, the sweeping, lightning-fast Stowe.
Much like the banks of fans from the Netherlands who support Dutch driver Max Verstappen of Red Bull at races around Europe, the dedicated stand is a sign of Norris’ newfound status in Formula 1 and the strength of the 25-year-old Bristol native’s support as he battles teammate Oscar Piastri as the top two drivers in the season championship standings.
Norris set the quickest time across Friday’s two practices, leading Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by .222 of a second in the second session. Lewis Hamilton was the third-fastest driver on a solid day for Ferrari, .301 off the pace, while points leader Piastri was fourth with four-time reigning F1 champion Verstappen fifth.