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Lando Norris has admitted he "was planning" to test a Formula E car, with the McLaren star having attended the all-electric championship's Monaco E-Prix as a guest of Jake Dennis and Andretti Formula E.
The reigning world champion was spotted on the grid catching up with several drivers, and was one of a number of prominent Formula 1 figures present at the Circuit de Monaco for the event. Gabriel Bortoleto, Carlos Sainz Jr., Nico Hülkenberg, Oliver Bearman and Christian Horner were also in attendance, underlining the growing mutual interest between the two championships.
For Norris, the visit carried a personal dimension. Many of the drivers competing in Formula E are former rivals from the junior categories — faces he has known since long before either championship became part of his professional landscape.
"I grew up with a lot of these guys or I raced with them," Norris told Formula E. "The level of drivers you have here is top – it's as good as you get. You're watching a series that has top class athletes, some of the best in the world – it's something I enjoy watching and being a part of."
It is a telling endorsement from a world champion — and one that reflects a broader shift in how Formula 1's elite are beginning to regard Formula E's competitive credentials.
The timing of Norris's visit was not coincidental. With F1's new power unit regulations prompting increased comparisons between the two series, all of the Formula 1 drivers present took a close look at the Gen4 car — the next-generation machine set to be introduced competitively next season and widely expected to significantly close the performance gap between Formula E and its combustion-engine counterpart.
It was in that context that Norris's planned test came into focus. According to information gathered by RacingNews365, the McLaren driver had been working towards a Gen4 seat run, only for scheduling conflicts and the relentless demands of a Formula 1 season to prevent it from happening.
"I was planning to do a bit of driving in a Formula E car at some point," Norris confirmed. "I've spoken to Jake [Dennis] and a few of the other guys who've driven here. Not everything correlates between the two [Formula 1 and Formula E] but there are always things you can learn by speaking to and listening to drivers that are at the top of this category."
It is a refreshingly open perspective from a driver who, away from the Formula 1 paddock, has shown a consistent curiosity for different motorsport disciplines — as demonstrated when Norris recently hinted at a Nordschleife racing ambition after lapping the legendary circuit in a McLaren 750S.
Whether a Formula E test ultimately materialises remains to be seen. But given the direction of both championships and Norris's evident respect for the series, it would be surprising if the conversation ends here. Notably, the Andretti outfit that hosted Norris is currently navigating its own crossroads, with Porsche and Andretti having confirmed their Formula E partnership will come to an end after the current season — adding an extra layer of intrigue to the McLaren star's ties with the team.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.
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