A Suffolk superfan who first met Lando Norris when he was 17 says she was “sobbing with joy” after his championship win.

Sarah Merritt, from Stowmarket, has been following Lando Norris since they first met at the BRDC awards in London in 2016.

The then 17-year-old won the young drivers competition and struck Mrs Merritt as being “incredibly down to earth and humble”.

Since Mrs Merritt has followed the driving sensation across the motocross world; with the pair meeting ten times at locations ranging from Goodwood to Shanghai and Monaco.

She has also had several Zoom calls and telephone conversations with the driver, enjoying seeing him “progress over time” and “become more confident”.

Norris, now 26, was crowned F1 world champion in Abu Dhabi on Sunday after he beat rival Max Verstappe

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