APEX RACEWIRE Newsroom
Eight-year-old George Norris crowned smallest F1 team principal
Eight-year-old George Norris, a passionate Formula 1 fan, was named the UK's first-ever 'Hot Wheels Tiniest Team Principal', enjoying a unique behind-the-scenes look at the British Grand Prix.
By Lesley Bakker - 2026-07-09T16:00:12.000Z - 2 min read
George Norris may only be eight years old, but his understanding of what it takes to run a racing team is remarkable. The young Formula 1 enthusiast has been named the UK's first 'Hot Wheels Tiniest Team Principal'. He impressed a panel of judges—which included world champion Jenson Button and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali—with his creativity, racing knowledge, and sheer passion for the sport.
Launched in May, the competition challenged young fans aged between five and ten to showcase their imagination, technical skills, and love for racing. Ted Wu, a senior executive at Mattel, highlighted that George stood out right from the start. His bold ideas, creativity, and confidence made him the ideal candidate for the title.
According to his father Ryan, George has been obsessed with both Hot Wheels and Formula 1 since the age of three. Building extensive track setups and closely following races laid the groundwork for this passion. The victory earned him his first-ever F1 race attendance: an unforgettable trip to Silverstone, where he explored the paddock as a VIP and met numerous famous motorsport figures.
During the Grand Prix weekend, meeting McLaren driver Lando Norris and team principal Andrea Stella stood out as absolute highlights. George, who shares the surname Norris, was particularly thrilled to speak with Lando, while Andrea took ample time to guide him and his family through the McLaren garage. Nevertheless, the young team principal found the race itself—his first time experiencing one live—to be the most exciting part of the weekend.
Back at school, George's victory caused quite a stir. His teachers shared his winning Hot Wheels video with the class, and classmates spent days questioning him about his adventure. The fairy tale does not end here: later this year, George will travel with his family to California to collaborate with Hot Wheels designers on creating a unique Formula 1 car.