McLaren Racing has confirmed that its test and reserve driver Lando Norris, who is currently contending the 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship, will drive for the 2019 Formula One season. The 18-year-old driver from Somerset, the UK, will replace Stoffel Vandoorne and signed a multi-year deal with the Woking-based outfit.
Lando Norris currently sits second in the championship, having won on his Formula 2 debut from pole position, with four races from two events remaining. He is part of McLaren Young Driver Programme since early 2017 when he officially joined the team as Test and Simulator Driver. He has participated in McLaren's F1 testing in Abu Dhabi in 2017, and Spain and Hungary in 2018. Most recently, he has driven in the first free practice sessions in Italy last weekend.
"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," Norris said after signing the deal.
Norris will take the seat of Belgian driver Vandoorne who is currently in 16th in the championship and has no points in his last 10 races. "The past two seasons we didn't achieve the success we'd hoped, but I want to thank everyone for the opportunities they gave me," Vandoorne said.
Norris will team up with new recruit Carlos Sainz who signed a multi-year deal with McLaren in August. Sainz will replace two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who has decided not to race for McLaren in the 2019 season. This will see a new driver line-up for McLaren in the 2019 Formula 1 season.
"In Lando and Carlos we have an impressive duo who, despite their relative youth, hold usable experience in Formula 1 and with McLaren, and represent the next generation of McLaren drivers to lead the team forward," said Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing.
