Norris: Sad times. I will miss Valentino Rossi

McLaren F1 driver Lando Norris paid tribute to his youthful idol Valentino Rossi and announced that they had exchanged text messages ahead of the Italian driver’s final MotoGP that weekend.

Norris, 21, wore a Rossi Tribute helmet at the 2019 Italian Grand Prix and the two have kept in touch since meeting at Silverstone earlier this year.

“He sent me a message last night just because he was going to the last race of his career,” the British Formula 1 driver told reporters before the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on the Brazilian circuit of Interlagos.

“These are sad times. I will miss him. He was the guy I saw when I was four, five, six years old. He got me into racing, got me on a motorcycle first, ”added Norris.

“He was the guy I looked up to, who somehow helped me get to this position where I am, because probably my ambition to be a racing driver wouldn’t have been so high without him.”

Norris did not want to divulge the details of Rossi’s text and said it was in response to a “small heartfelt message” he had sent saying how much he would miss him and what he had accomplished , congratulated.

Norris said he and Rossi had talked “every now and then” and still had plans to race together, and mentioned GT sports car events like 12-hour races in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, or even online.

“He doesn’t just like motorcycles. He also loves car racing … If he can spend a little more time racing in F1, that’s the plan for something we want to try together, ”added Norris.

Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, who swapped machines with Rossi for fun at an event in Valencia in 2019, also paid tribute to the Italian: “Of course it’s sad to see Vale stop, but I think his drive, his approach, is simple everything. ”he did was amazing.

Hamilton: Vale is such a legend, one of the greatest

“The passion he has had for so long has been shown. And just such a legend, one of the greatest that ever made it, ”said Hamilton.

The 41-year-old Italian will make his 432nd Grand Prix start this weekend after posting a record 89 wins and 199 podiums in MotoGP.

“I think the positive thing about my career is that a lot of people started following MotoGP to follow my career from the start and the sport got bigger and more famous in Italy but also around the world,” said Rossi told reporters on Thursday.

“It is easy to understand that in the course of my career I have become something different, something of an icon and that is a great, great pleasure, even if what happens on the track is more important for a driver, the result, All.”

Rossi began his career in the 125cc category and won a world title in 1997, followed by the 250cc championship in 1999.

A year later he moved to the premier class and won seven titles between 2001 and 2009.

“I always imagined this presser … it’s a strange feeling. I want to keep it normal, but that is not possible. Big emotions right now, ”said Rossi, who attended a special ceremony where all of his master bikes were presented to the media.

The Petronas Yamaha rider said he was disappointed in not being able to add a tenth world title.

“I fought a lot for the 10th championship … I was able to drive at a good level. My last title in 2009 was a lifetime ago. I would have liked to have won another championship, but I can’t complain. I had a great career, ”added Rossi.

Rossi had a difficult last season with only 38 points and no podium finishes. Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo sealed the title. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin)