Lando Norris on snowy drift challenge with the Solbergs: "One of the most fun cars I've ever driven"

2025 Formula 1 champion Lando Norris has taken on a drifting challenge with Monster Energy, joining Swedish-Norwegian rally driver Oliver Solberg and his father, Petter Solberg and drifting champion Steve ‘Baggsy’ Biagioni.

While speaking to the media in Melbourne ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Norris reflected on the opportunity.

"I drove a Volvo. But maybe one of the most fun cars I've ever driven in a way," he explained. "So it was nice. I supported Oli. When I grew up, before I was introduced into Formula 1, one of the guys I actually looked up to was Richard Burns, was rally, was Subaru.

"And Petter was driving back then. So I used to love rally, and I've always loved rally. I got to have my first taste of driving a WR2 car and having a bit of fun with Oli in the snow and the ice.

"Quite a different style of driving needed to drive rally cars and Volvos compared to what I'm used to. But a lot of fun. I just never had the opportunity to go and see Oli, go out to his place and drive and have a bit of fun.

"So I finally had the opportunity. It's grown a good amount. I've just not been able to see him as much as I would have liked, or probably allow him to come to the races as much just because he's busy.

"WRC, they travel a lot, just as much as we do at times. So it was nice. We both had a bit of time off, a couple of days, and we could spend it together and get to meet each other a bit more, talk and have a bit of fun and enjoy some things away from the serious stuff. So, yeah, it was a lot of fun."

Set around a snowy drift circuit on a frozen lake in Sweden, the group decided to take the Volvo 940, which had caught their eye, for a spin first. After Solberg Sr showed the McLaren F1 driver how it was done, Norris switched over to the driver's side.

"Petter says, 'Now it's your time to have a go Mr Lando.' So, we went out. We did two laps, and within the second lap he was linking the whole track," Biagioni said. "Big Scandinavian flicks. It was awesome to witness. My first ever drift car was a Volvo and getting to see Lando sliding a Volvo around here was very cool."

Next up was the rally car. Opting to take the role of co-driver first, Norris got in beside Solberg Jr. in the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, before having a go himself.

"Very impressed actually, and I think at the end now he's pushing properly," Petter said. "I was actually driving behind him and I didn't catch him, so it was actually really good."

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