Lando Norris is one of the youngest drivers in F1, at only 24 years old, who defends the colors of the McLaren-Mercedes team, with whom he is contractually linked until 2027. He has already participated in 113 races, having won one and been on the podium 18 times. At the same time, he is one of the young hopes of world motorsports with the greatest potential, he has already accumulated 764 points, having achieved 1 pole position and 6 fastest laps in the race, which allowed him to be 6th in the 2023 World Championship, and in the 2024 edition to occupy 3rd positiononly behind Verstappen’s Red Bull and Leclerc’s Ferrari.
On a day-to-day basis, Norris has a McLaren at his disposal, which is normal for a super driver like him, but when it is his turn to represent the sport, the team or defend his career in the highest category of motorsport, the conversation is different and The English driver is happy to give up supercars, raw power and tremendous acceleration ability. That is why his latest acquisition is a Land Rover Defender 90, without a hood and intended for leisure excursions in the countryside.
The Defender 90 recovered by Retro Automotive, but sporting the colors used by McLaren in the bodywork and upholstery
If you think a Defender 90 (0 shorter, with only 2 doors) is a strange choice for an F1 driver when off duty, Wait until you find out that if the Land Rover can’t rival the McLaren in terms of power, cornering efficiency or braking ability, it achieves something that’s beyond the reach of any supercar. We are referring to a pizza oven, which the Defender carries in the cargo box and which makes it the center of any party that some 24-year-old friends decide to organize in nature, whether it is a picnic in the countryside or an excursion to a secluded beach with friends.
Lando Norris’ Defender 90 was completely recovered and prepared according to the driver’s instructions by Retro Automotive, a British company specialized in the reconstruction of vintage or collectible vehicles. After more than 1,000 hours of work, the Defender was ready to be delivered to the F1 ace, with a body with flares and LED headlights painted in Nardo Gray – used on some road-going McLarens – and the interior covered in leather in a Curious Muirhead. Egyptian Blue, which covers the dashboard, seats and door panels. But the most popular piece of equipment is probably the Ooni portable pizza oven, which will delight Norris and his friends.
Plus a Marshall hi-fi system and 3.9 V8 gasoline engine installed in the frontAmong other equipment required by the driver, the Defender was ready to be delivered to Monaco, where Norris lives. For Retro Automotive, this was another important project for a small, versatile company, producing 15 custom vehicles a year.
Source: Observadora
