F1 News: NBA superstar pretends to be 'attractive' Norris in hilarious video

Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc during press conference — Photo: © IMAGO

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NBA superstar pretends to be 'attractive' Norris in hilarious video

The Miami Heat star went to a new level to support his favourite driver

Tyler Rowlinson

Sunday 5 May 2024 21:00

Miami Heat superstar Jimmy Butler is showing his support for Lando Norris at the Miami Grand Prix in a hilarious way.

The McLaren driver will line up fifth for Sunday’s race as he looks to redeem himself after his retirement from the sprint race on Saturday.

Article continues under video

Butler is a known Norris fan, after the two met in Montreal at the 2019 Canadian Grand Prix for a hot lap around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

And the American NBA star is keeping up that support in Miami – by pretending to be Norris.

Lando Norris lines up P5 in Miami's race

The Brit retired from the sprint race on Saturday

Butler pretends to be Norris

The reporter played along with the gag and began asking him questions as if he was actually the McLaren driver.

“I can’t call you Jimmy. I’m calling you Lando, right? Why is that Lando?” she asked

“That’s who I aspire to be. He’s great, he’s young, he’s a little bit attractive, and so, I think it’s good to be him right now,” Butler responded.

When asked if it was his first time at an F1 event, he said: “I’ve been here a couple of times. I’ve been to Montreal. I want to go to Monaco, though. So, that’s the next one on my list.”

Asked if he has tried to fit into an F1 car, the 34-year-old said: “I have not, I don’t think I will and like I tell everybody, I don’t like to go fast. I want to drive slow, I drive like big cars, not small, fast ones.”

“Well, the real Lando goes very fast,” the reporter quickly adds.

To which Butler responds: “He does and I think that’s why I think I lied to you. My name’s really not Lando, it’s Jimmy, so that’s probably why I don’t get in these cars.”

Jimmy Butler is showing his support for Norris

Butler’s antics did not end there, as a video posted on McLaren’s X account show the American basketball player wondering around the team’s garage as if he was Norris.

“Show y’all around my garage, ‘garage’ if you’re American, y’all see the shirt? Yeah, that’s my name,” he points out.

He then proceeds to speak to the mechanics and other team members in the garage, keeping up the Norris gag.

“See this? How we doing, how we doing? That’s my car over there,” he says. “Oh let me get out the way, I’m all up in people way. Actually I don’t gotta get out the way. I’m Lando! Y’all get out my way!”

Butler then manages to fit a mechanic’s helmet on, before taking a seat at the technical area opposite the garage trackside.

“Feel just like at home like I really know what I’m doing here. I’m very comfortable.”

The moment then comes where Butler gets to meet the real Norris and poses with a picture, as well as meeting team-mate Oscar Piastri.

McLaren Lando Norris Miami Grand Prix