F1 driver Lando Norris moving from Surrey to Monaco to ‘look after my future’ ahead of 2022 season

Lando Norris has announced plans to become the latest Formula One driver to move to Monaco - and freely admits the move is financially motivated.

The principality is home to several drivers past and present, including Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Norris’ McLaren teammate, Daniel Ricciardo.

Monaco’s combination of glamour, Mediterranean weather and low tax rates have long made it a prime destination for F1 stars, who spend much of the year travelling between Grands Prix. But 22-year-old Norris made clear that the potentially short nature of a racing career means the financial incentives are important for his future.

"It's something that obviously a lot of drivers go to do and especially, with how racing is, I think we've seen for other drivers how quickly things can also go downhill and so on," stated Norris.

"I have to look after my things for my future."

Norris posted an Instagram image of his new flat ahead of its renovation, ready for him to move into after the 2021 season draws to a close in Abu Dhabi later this month. The Brit has insisted that his popular interaction with fans will not change in Monaco.

“Of course I’ll understand and there’s going to be some [criticism] for sure,” he said. “But people do many things in life for money. This is just another one.

“I can still stream on Twitch and stuff. My interaction with the fans won’t change at all. Max has done a few streams, so that side of it won’t change.”

Norris had previously pushed back against the idea of moving away from his Surrey base, which allowed him easy access to the McLaren factory as well as his friends and family.

"There was still a lot more to gain from me and my career to being at McLaren and being able to go in whenever I wanted to," he said.

"Whenever I had a bad weekend, I could just go in on whatever day to be on the simulator to try things, speaking to my engineers, and so on. And I love England. It's still probably my favourite place to be.

"My family are there, my friends are there. And I think I said many times that for me, fun and enjoyment, and enjoying what I'm doing, takes priority over making these kind of decisions.

"So it's not a not an easy decision. And it's not something I've been thinking of for many years. I just feel like I'm in a comfortable place at the minute to make this decision and spend the time to move over there.”

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