(Reuters) – Mason Mount and his England team mates have Lando Norris in their sights after the McLaren Formula One driver’s brother set up racing simulators at their Euro 2020 training camp.
Norris told reporters at the French Grand Prix at Le Castellet that some of the players had messaged to say they were trying to beat his benchmark lap of Brands Hatch.
“I know some of them have been on the simulator trying to beat one of my lap times that I did at Brands. I don’t think any of them have yet. I know Mason said he was trying hard to beat me,” he said.
Norris said the Chelsea midfielder had sent him an England shirt and he would be wearing it when able to watch.
England play Scotland at Wembley in a Group D match later on Friday.
“There’s a few of the guys who definitely want to come to a race. I said it would be awesome if they could come to Silverstone but obviously they can’t as the football is on and they’re quite busy during next month,” said Norris.
“It’s a shame but hopefully in the future I can get a few of them round.”
Norris, a keen player as a kid and a casual Bristol City fan, said he followed England when major tournaments were on but otherwise did not watch much.
With a Belgian mother and a German team boss, Norris was looking forward also to some friendly rivalry.
“If my mom asks me who I’m supporting then I’ll say Belgium. So I’m split. I would love both of them to do well,” he grinned.
“I really, really hope we get to go against Germany and smash them just so I can laugh at (principal) Andreas (Seidl). That will make my year if that happens.”
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, Editing by Hugh Lawson)
