{"id":6071,"date":"2018-09-03T13:19:26","date_gmt":"2018-09-03T17:19:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/?p=6071"},"modified":"2018-09-03T13:19:26","modified_gmt":"2018-09-03T17:19:26","slug":"lando-norris-to-race-for-mclaren-in-the-2019-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2018\/09\/03\/lando-norris-to-race-for-mclaren-in-the-2019-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Lando Norris To Race For McLaren In The 2019 Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was announced today that McLaren<\/strong> test driver Lando Norris<\/strong> will replace Stoffel Vandoorne <\/strong>at McLaren<\/strong> F1<\/strong> in 2019. Norris will drive alongside Carlos Sainz Jr.<\/strong>, who was announced to drive for the team<\/strong><\/a> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lando Norris Joins Carlos Sainz Jr. On 2019 McLaren Roster<\/h1>\n

The news broke via <\/span>McLaren\u2019s official website<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, with Zak Brown<\/strong>, McLaren CEO, saying: \u201cWe believe Lando is an exciting talent, full of potential, who we\u2019ve very deliberately kept within the McLaren fold for exactly that reason.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe already know he\u2019s 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.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cLando 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.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIn Lando and <\/em>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.<\/em><\/p>\n

“While our short-term focus is fixed on securing the best possible result for the remainder of the 2018 season, we\u2019re also massively motivated by the opportunities that lie ahead.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

A Dream Come True For Lando Norris
\n<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n

Lando Norris said:\u201cTo be announced as a race driver for McLaren is a dream come true. Although I\u2019ve been part of the team for a while now, this is a special moment, one I could only hope would become reality.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to thank the whole team for this amazing opportunity and for believing in me. I\u2019m 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 <\/em>testing and on Fridays during the past two race weekends.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFor 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.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll 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.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Norris posted an old video of himself when he was a kid on <\/span>Twitter<\/span> 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 \u201che wouldn\u2019t believe me.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

If I could go back and tell this guy he\u2019d be a @McLarenF1<\/a> driver in 2019, he wouldn\u2019t believe me. Amazing opportunity. Dream come true #Lando19<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/v0MZISgxrj<\/a><\/p>\n

— Lando Norris (@LandoNorris) September 3, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n