Lando has landed the drive of his dreams
TEENAGER Lando Norris has been handed the chance to follow in the footsteps of Lewis Hamilton after securing a drive with McLaren.
The Bristol-born racer, 18, will get the chance to test himself against the best drivers on the planet next season after McLaren ruthlessly axed Stoffel Vandoorne yesterday.
Just like enjoyed a the junior categories. He was crowned the youngest European Formula Three champion in history last year and is currently second in the Formula Two series behind fellow Briton George Russell.
And just like Hamilton, Norris has been groomed for grand prix success by McLaren via their young driver programme.
Norris, delighted at being given the opportunity to be part of McLaren’s attempt to revive their flagging fortunes, said: “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 Hamilton, glittering Norris has career in extremely grateful for the commitment McLaren has already shown in my development, allowing me to build my experience in a Formula One car.
“For the remainder of 2018, my focus remains firmly on the Formula Two championship. My objective is to win the title before joining McLaren full time.”
The bad news for Norris is that McLaren are a shadow of the team that gave Hamilton his big break in 2007, and took him to his first drivers’ title in the following campaign.
But chief executive Zak Brown is hoping the youthful partnership of Norris and 24-year-old Carlos Sainz, who is replacing fellow Spaniard Fernando Alonso, can drag the ailing team back up to the front.
Brown said: “We believe Lando is an exciting talent, full of potential, who we’ve very deliberately kept within the McLaren fold for exactly that reason.
“Lando is an integral part of our plan for rebuilding our Formula One 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 One and with McLaren, and represent the next generation of McLaren drivers to lead the team forward.”
No so long ago Vandoorne was seen as the bright young thing to lead McLaren forward, but he now finds himself surplus to requirements with the Woking- based team.
The Belgian said of his axing: “I’m very grateful to McLaren for investing their faith in me over the past five years.
“I joined McLaren as a young driver and have since seen my career progress with the team. While we haven’t enjoyed the success we’d all hoped for, I’ve really enjoyed the past two seasons.”