Breaking: Lando Norris will partner Carlos Sainz in McLaren in 2019
The announcement came minutes ago, after the one which announced Stoffel Vandoorne will leave the team a the end of the season.
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The announcement came earlier than expected, as McLaren, few minutes after announcing Stoffel Vandoorne will leave the team after the last race in Abu Dhabi, announced who is going to drive alongside Carlos Sainz in 2019.
Lando Norris, already test and reserve driver for the team, will step in as the official driver for the 2019 season, with a multi - year agreement. He is currently 2nd in the F2 Championship.
“We believe Lando is an exciting talent, full of potential, who we’ve very deliberately kept within the McLaren fold for exactly that reason." Said Zak Brown, McLaren Racing CEO. “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." He continued.
All the rumors were, then, disappointed, as McLaren signed the young driver who is already part of the McLaren Young Driver Programme since 2017; has disputed official F1 tests with McLaren in Abu Dhabi, in 2017, and Spain and Hungary this season, alongside two FP1 practices in Belgium and Italy.
The McLaren drivers line up will be, then, one of the youngest of the grid, as Sain turned 24 years old on the 1st of September and Norris is just 18.
“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." Added Brown. "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.”
“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." Said the newly announced Norris in a statement.
“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.”
Lando Norris, already test and reserve driver for the team, will step in as the official driver for the 2019 season, with a multi - year agreement. He is currently 2nd in the F2 Championship.
“We believe Lando is an exciting talent, full of potential, who we’ve very deliberately kept within the McLaren fold for exactly that reason." Said Zak Brown, McLaren Racing CEO. “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." He continued.
All the rumors were, then, disappointed, as McLaren signed the young driver who is already part of the McLaren Young Driver Programme since 2017; has disputed official F1 tests with McLaren in Abu Dhabi, in 2017, and Spain and Hungary this season, alongside two FP1 practices in Belgium and Italy.
The McLaren drivers line up will be, then, one of the youngest of the grid, as Sain turned 24 years old on the 1st of September and Norris is just 18.
“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." Added Brown. "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.”
“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." Said the newly announced Norris in a statement.
“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.”