Hailing from Somerset and after joining McLaren in 2016 and with a remarkable rookie season under his belt, he now begins his fifth full season in Formula 1 with McLaren in 2024.
Here's the story so far…
2022 brought along a new era of Formula 1 introducing entirely new cars and the opportunity for Lando to further develop himself in F1.
He took that opportunity with both seriously and secured a podium in Imola and two fastest laps during the season to finish 7th with 122 points.
2021 was another record year for Lando, racking up 4 podiums at Imola, Monaco, Austria and Monza, and an overall finish of P6 in the drivers’ standings.
His P2 finish in Monza helped McLaren take home the season's only 1-2 finish. This impressive year led to Lando signing a new contract, which means he stays with McLaren until at least 2025.
Lando remained with McLaren for his second year in Formula 1. The 2020 season started strongly as he scored his maiden Formula 1 podium in the season-opening Austrian Grand Prix.
Five further top-five finishes in 2020 meant Lando finished ninth in the drivers' championship on 97 points. His strong results and impressive teamwork alongside Carlos Sainz Jr. ensured McLaren finished third in the 2020 constructors’ championship, the team's best finish since 2012.
On 3 September 2018, Lando was announced as a driver for McLaren in the 2019 Formula 1 World Championship alongside Carlos Sainz Jr.
On his debut in Australia, he qualified 8th and at the next race in Bahrain he scored his first points with a strong drive to 6th. With a string of strong performances throughout the year he finished his debut season 11th with 49 points.
Having graduated from being a member of the McLaren Young Driver squad to the British F1 team’s Test & Reserve driver in 2018, Lando stepped up to a full season in F2.
Lando got his Championship title aspirations off to a flying start by winning the opening race in Bahrain. He then racked up a further 8 podiums throughout the season placing him as Vice-champion.
The McLaren Young driver continued his phenomenal rise through the motorsport ranks in 2017 by becoming the youngest FIA Formula 3 European Champion in history and in November was announced as the official McLaren Formula 1 test and reserve driver for 2018.
Collecting 3 Championship crowns, the McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver and the British Racing Driver of the year awards - 2016 was Lando’s most successful year to date (so far!).
Super Somerset driver Lando was ecstatic after taking the inaugural MSA Formula Championship title with Carlin in 2015. He notched up an impressive eight wins across the season to be crowned the FIA Formula 4 Champion of Great Britain at Brands Hatch in October.
In 2014, Lando moved up to KF – the premier senior Karting category whilst also competing in the one-make Ginetta Junior Championship. Despite his engine seizing in the third round in Genk Lando still came third overall in the Championship – an impressive feat against older and more experienced drivers. But Lando out did that remarkable achievement in September at the CIK-FIA KF World Championships, where the 14-year-old made history by becoming the youngest World Championship winner.
Lando took part in the WSK Euro Series, the Winter Cup, the Rotax Super One and the Euro Max in 2013.The talented teen showed his class and talent to become the CIK-FIA European KFJ champion, WSK Euro Series KFJ champion and CIK-FIA KFJ Super Cup champion. He was also vice-champion in the WSK Master Series and seeded fourth in the World Championships – after a non-score in the opening round and a win in Bahrain.
This season would act as a trigger for what was to come over the next three seasons, when the talented 12-year-old was crowned champion in the Formula Kart Stars series and runner-up in the MSA Super One British Championship.
The Millfield School student had a frustrating time in 2011 due to carburettor issues and a chassis that wasn’t as competitive as it needed to be. He moved into the Rotax Mini-Max category early to use the end of the season to prepare for the next. He finished 10th out of 30 drivers in his first meeting.
For the 2010 season, Lando entered the two main national championships in the cadet class racing against drivers up to three years older than him. Undaunted, a series of podium results and a string of pole-positions – more than any other driver that year – saw his reputation rise on the way to third overall in the Super One Series, as well as being winning the coveted ‘O’ Plate during the season.
He claimed pole position at his first national event and to-date is still the youngest driver to ever get pole at a national meeting. Despite early season mechanical issues in this debut season, a switch to the Mick Barrett Racing team and a Tony Kart chassis allowed him to beat drivers vastly more experienced.
Lando’s first proper year at club level karting. His potential was clear for all to see and his enjoyment at getting behind the wheel was the catalyst for what was to come.
