Brit teenager Lando Norris hopeful of landing McLaren reserve seat in 2018
The highly-rated Englishman will make the step up to Formula Two, in 2018 and hopes to combine his duties with deputising for Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.British teen sensation Lando Norris hopes he has proved to McLaren that he deserves Jenson Button's place as the team's reserve driver next season.
Norris, the Glastonbury racer who turns 18 next month, emulated Lewis Hamilton by winning the European Formula Three championship in Germany last weekend.
The highly-rated Englishman - snapped up to McLaren's young driver academy in February after a string of impressive displays in the junior categories of motor racing - will make the step up to Formula One's feeder series, known as Formula Two, in 2018.
And Norris wants to double up his F2 duties with those of being McLaren reserve driver and be the first port of call to deputise for Fernando Alonso, who remains unsigned at McLaren for 2018, and Stoffel Vandoorne next year.
"I hope I can be the team's reserve driver in 2018," he said. "It has been talked about, so it is something which is possible, but McLaren have got to decide. Jenson has said himself that he is finished with Formula One, and that he wants to do some other form of motor racing and have fun.
"I have a good opportunity to be the third driver next year, but we are looking at 2019 or 2020 as a more realistic option for a full-time drive. That provides me with a better opportunity to prepare with Formula Two and a learning curve towards being in Formula One."
Despite his tender years and limited experience, Norris has already been earmarked as a grand prix star of the future.
He turned heads with his impressive display in his first official F1 outing at August's test in Hungary - in which he was second only to Sebastian Vettel - before going on to seal the prestigious F3 title with two races to spare.
Norris' success has drawn parallels with that of Hamilton, who won the F3 championship back in 2005, before making his grand prix debut for McLaren two years later. Hamilton, 32, could clinch his fourth world championship in America this weekend.
"I kind of look up to Lewis, not as a hero, but as a very good driver who is very fast," Norris, who lives at home with his parents and two sisters in Somerset, added. "Everyone has to admire his pace, especially in qualifying. He is a driver I support, in terms of him being British, and I want him to win, but he isn't an idol to me.
"The only thing I can do is go off my results that I have had in the past. There haven't been many who have won the F3 championship - and the ones that have, have gone on to drive in Formula One - so I just hope that tradition continues."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments