Lando Norris has revealed he has been subjected to loss of life threats – and described social media abuse aimed toward his mannequin girlfriend as “horrific”.
The 22-year-old British driver, in his fourth Formula One marketing campaign, has established himself as a followers’ favorite, with greater than 5 million followers on Instagram.
But talking forward of Sunday’s British Grand Prix, Norris additionally revealed the darkish aspect to fame.
“I get death threats every now and then,” he mentioned. “Most people do. Not enough gets done and it is tough.
“If I had seen the threats when I started in 2019, it would have had more effect, but now I understand when you have to laugh – not laugh at a death threat – but laugh at the silly comments people come up with and things they try to create to get attention.
“I want to race, travel the world, meet new people and create new experiences – and they are using their one life sat behind a computer in their bedroom looking to try and ruin, annoy and bully someone.”
McLaren’s Norris, who’s seventh on the earth championship – one place behind Lewis Hamilton – made his relationship with 22-year-old Portuguese vogue mannequin Luisinha Oliveira public at first of the yr.
He continued: “The amount of hate pages on social media dedicated to Luisinha now is pretty horrific. Instagram and Twitter are the main ones and it is not an easy thing for her.
“She has gone from quite a normal life to suddenly having a lot of followers, so she has to be more careful with what she says and does.
“It is difficult for her to be involved in it so quickly. At least in racing, you kind of go through it slowly and learn to adapt to it – from Formula Four, Formula Three, Formula Two and then Formula One.
“But having gone from never watching a Formula One race to suddenly being in that limelight is extremely tough and then to have to read the comments, too. I want to protect her from that.”
Norris rose by the junior ranks alongside compatriot George Russell, with each males graduating from Formula Two on the finish of 2018.
After three years at Williams, the 24-year-old Russell, who beat Norris to the F2 title, is now seated alongside Hamilton at Mercedes, and has out-scored his extra illustrious team-mate.
But Norris added: “My manager, my trainer, my parents, have always tried to keep me as me, rather than try to shape me. I see other drivers get shaped more because of who they are with, the teams they are with, and I don’t think that is a good thing. It takes away their personality.
“Growing up with George for instance, was a lot of fun. He was a great person, but it is different at Mercedes – a different vibe and a different atmosphere. I just don’t see as fun a side of him.
“George is a great person, and I feel like the personality he had a few years ago, he would be even more popular.
“I don’t think it is Mercedes’ fault but the pressure of being with Mercedes, and having Lewis as a team-mate, is never going to be an easy thing.
“You don’t want to be seen to be having a fun time and playing around, but on the other side there are no complaints because George is doing an amazing job this year, so it is working for him.”
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk