With Lando Norris now the new F1 world champion, his girlfriend, Margarida Corceiro, is also sharing the limelight. Margarida, a Portuguese model and actress turned F1 paddock sensation, has become as well-known off the track as Norris is on it. However, her glamorous lifestyle, high-profile appearances, and the split focus of the F1 cameras have stirred some controversy among F1 competitors.

Ever since their public display of affection following Lando's triumph in Budapest earlier this year, the spotlight has been firmly fixed on the young couple, with fans and rivals alike voicing their opinions without restraint.

The woman behind the headlines

Often referred to as Magui, Margarida Corceiro is no newcomer to the glare of the camera. Born in Santarem, Portugal, on 26 October 2002, she first stepped into the public eye as a teenage actress in Portuguese TV dramas and as a participant in the country's version of Dancing with the Stars in 2020.

Since then, she has built a career encompassing modelling, acting, and influencer work. She boasts over 2.2 million Instagram followers and more than 800,000 TikTok fans, along with another 13.1 million likes on the social media platform, making her one of Portugal's most recognisable personalities.

Her Instagram is a montage of images and videos depicting a life many can only fantasise about, from fashion shoots and yacht holidays to artistic selfies and daily lifestyle posts; she unabashedly flaunts her luxurious lifestyle.

She is the co-founder of the environmentally conscious swimwear brand MISSUS, and has featured in the brand's own advertising campaigns. Her collaborations with big brands like Intimissimi, Alo Yoga, and Kérastase demonstrate that she's carved out her own niche and shouldn't merely be categorised as an F1 driver's girlfriend.

To further cement her influence and success, Margarida was named the most influential person on Instagram in Portugal by Forbes Portugal.

Single life... or not?

While Lando often jests about his single status, those in the know were aware that he and Margarida had been connected for some time. The duo were first seen together in May 2023, reportedly soon after Margarida ended her relationship with footballer Joao Féeix, who now plays for Barcelona.

They were snapped driving together in Monaco, igniting speculation among F1 enthusiasts. By April 2024, they were spotted again at the Monte Carlo Masters final, but neither confirmed their relationship.

It was only in August 2025, during the Hungarian Grand Prix, that the couple's relationship was officially revealed. The duo were seen together in the paddock, with Lando sharing a jubilant kiss with Margarida after his triumphant win in Budapest.

Since then, she has been a regular fixture at races, cheering him on from the front row of the garage and appearing in media shots that have not gone unnoticed.

F1 controversy

This visibility has ruffled feathers in the F1 world. Carlos Sainz, Lando's former McLaren team-mate, voiced his frustration that TV coverage often zooms in on drivers' partners rather than the on-track action.

Following the Singapore Grand Prix, he told Spain's El Partidazo de COPE: "They [the production team] go overboard a little by showing the celebrities and girlfriends... they missed a lot of things."

He further added: "I understand that if there is an overtake, a very tense moment in the race, it is understandable that the production team might want to show a reaction shot if they have seen that it has worked in the past... but [they only should] if the competition is respected..." It appears the F1 driver was urging the production team to strike a balance between sport and spectacle, while also feeling the sting when it came to capturing attention.

Speaking to Jornal de Noticias, Margarida revealed: "I don't call the cameras. If they record me, they record me. Sometimes I don't even realise if I'm being recorded."

She has maintained that she possesses no technical knowledge of F1 and that her involvement is solely to back her partner.

Although they initially kept matters private, Lando described Margarida in an interview as someone he can "very much be myself with... very down to earth, and she lives quite a crazy life as well."

The romance arrives during the best moment of Norris' career. The McLaren driver secured a P3 finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to claim his maiden F1 World Drivers' Championship.

His campaign has witnessed him eclipse both team-mate Oscar Piastri and four-time Red Bull champion Max Verstappen.

Margarida has served as a constant source of encouragement throughout the paddock during the excitement, victories, and technical disputes that have dominated the season. It appears there's a fresh power duo in the F1 paddock, and regardless of the criticism, they're not going anywhere.