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Lando Norris says that McLaren will allow the Briton time to adjust to being a full-time Formula 1 driver before they start to compare him to his more experienced teammate. Norris will make his F1 debut in Australia next March, partnering Carlos Sainz, who enters his fifth season in the sport.
After successful European Formula 3 and Formula 2 campaigns as a McLaren junior, the Woking squad opted to promote him for 2019 to replace Stoffel Vandoorne. In preparation for his rookie year, Norris was handed several FP1 outings in the second half of the 2018 season.
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Norris will be the youngest driver on the grid next year, having just turned 19 last month. The Briton stated that he can learn a lot from his new teammate, but noted that McLaren will allow him time to sort his feet in his new surroundings.
"It’s a new challenge for myself, for the team," he said. "Two new drivers. I can learn a lot from Carlos, he’s very experienced, I rate him as a very good driver. So I can learn a lot from him. I don’t think I need to rush anything, I can take my time.
"McLaren are working on all areas: on the young drivers, the new drivers, myself, the car for next year, obviously. So I don’t think there’s too much pressure," Norris continued. "Obviously there is pressure and I need to do well and not makes mistakes but it’s not like I have to show I’m capable of winning a world championship in race one. I have time to develop.
"They’re allowing me to have time to develop and become a better driver, they can help me in doing so. And of course it’s not going to be the ideal situation to be in, you never know what the car’s going to be doing next year, it could be amazing, it could be bad, you never know. But obviously we’re working on the ‘amazing’ aspect of it and trying to make it better. Then we’ll see in the pre-season test."
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Replies (7)
Login to replymcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
By summer break, if Lando cant get a good measure of Sainz, he would be judged harshly across the paddock. Mclarens expections would be as volatile as their management. ‘Time to develop’ is a myth in Reality in F1, they are calling it F2 now.
Lotus4Ever
Posts: 26
YES - ask anybody of these drivers: Sergio Perez, Kevin Magnussen, Stoffel Vandoorne...
Jutlandia
Posts: 191
Just my words, exept you forgot Heiki Kovalainen. A list of drivers that got their careers (almost) destroyed by McLaren
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
The previous McLaren would never have given him enough time to develop. Brown's McLaren... Time will tell. Gut feeling after Stoff is no, but who knows?
boudy
Posts: 1,168
That's a new one. I though that F1 is so cut-throat you would need to perform straight away. Can't see that changing for him, he will need to impress with the tools that he has to his disposal otherwise he will just lose his seat.
Niids
Posts: 43
Totally agree, this is F1 and it should be this way. If you are (and see yourself as ) "talented, quick and very perspective driver", but you can't beat almost 40 years old , past decade champion, this is no place for you (poor Vaandorne).
This guy's daddy probably bought him more tests in outdated cars than Stroll did for Lance. If he will be not able to compete with the mediocre Sainz from the beginning it would be a disappointment.
mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
The difference is Alonso did not perform like your typical 40 year old, past the date champion like Kimi. He would have won the drivers championship at least 3 more ( or even more) times from 2014, if he is in a Mercedez. The man's issues are not related to speed and race craft.