It was announced today that McLaren test driver Lando Norris will replace Stoffel Vandoorne at McLaren F1 in 2019. Norris will drive alongside Carlos Sainz Jr., who was announced to drive for the team recently as well. Norris has been a test driver for two seasons for McLaren while driving in the GP3 and F2 racing series. Turning 19 in November, Norris is set to be the youngest driver on the grid.
Lando Norris Joins Carlos Sainz Jr. On 2019 McLaren Roster
The news broke via McLaren’s official website, with Zak Brown, McLaren CEO, saying: “We believe Lando is an exciting talent, full of potential, who we’ve very deliberately kept within the McLaren fold for exactly that reason.
“We already know he’s fast, he learns quickly, and has a mature head on his young shoulders. We see much potential for our future together. The investment we have made in his budding career with simulator development and seat-time in the car has been well-deserved, as he has continued to prove his abilities both behind the wheel and in his work with the engineering team.
“Lando is an integral part of our plan for rebuilding our Formula 1 operation for the future, and he has already developed a strong relationship with the team.
“In Lando and Carlos we have an impressive duo who, despite their relative youth, hold valuable experience in Formula 1 and with McLaren, and represent the next generation of McLaren drivers to lead the team forward.
“While our short-term focus is fixed on securing the best possible result for the remainder of the 2018 season, we’re also massively motivated by the opportunities that lie ahead.”
A Dream Come True For Lando Norris
Lando Norris said:“To be announced as a race driver for McLaren is a dream come true. Although I’ve been part of the team for a while now, this is a special moment, one I could only hope would become reality.
“I’d like to thank the whole team for this amazing opportunity and for believing in me. I’m also extremely grateful for the commitment McLaren has already shown in my development, allowing me to build my experience in a Formula 1 car in both testing and on Fridays during the past two race weekends.
“For the remainder of 2018, my focus remains firmly on the Formula 2 championship. My objective is to win the title before joining McLaren full-time, which will be tough, but I will fight as hard as I can for the remaining four races.
“I’ll also be working closely with McLaren at every opportunity to learn as much as possible from the drivers, engineers and mechanics to give myself the best preparation ahead of next year.”
Norris posted an old video of himself when he was a kid on Twitter after the announcement. The video is of him doing doughnuts in a go-kart, with the caption saying that if he told his younger self that he would be a McLaren F1 driver “he wouldn’t believe me.”
If I could go back and tell this guy he’d be a @McLarenF1 driver in 2019, he wouldn’t believe me. Amazing opportunity. Dream come true #Lando19 pic.twitter.com/v0MZISgxrj
— Lando Norris (@LandoNorris) September 3, 2018
Norris’s Rise Through The Ranks
Norris has won consistently at every level since he started karting at the age of seven. Norris won the European Formula 3 Championship in 2017.
This season in Formula 2 Norris currently is in second place with one race win in Bahrain. The Formula 2 2018 season has four races left in it as Lando Norris is battling for first place with fellow Brit George Russell. Norris drives for the F2 team Carlin with Brazilian driver Sérgio Sette Câmara. Norris hopes for something else to celebrate before 2018 ends, saying on Twitter that he wants “one last donut (on track) before this chapter is out.”
Thanks to every single person who’s been a part of this so far. 2018 isn’t over, I want one last donut before this chapter is out 😏
— Lando Norris (@LandoNorris) September 3, 2018
Working with the McLaren team isn’t a new experience for Norris, as he drove for the United Autosport team at the Rolex 24 this year alongside Fernando Alonso, who will be making his exit from McLaren F1 at the end of the season. They placed 13th in their class. Norris has also driven in free practice sessions for McLaren f1, and at the Hungarian F1 test last year.
With a complete roster overhaul McLaren looks to hopefully start a new chapter in the team’s history after winless seasons since 2013.
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