Brown sees Norris as 'integral part of McLaren restructuring plan'

The crew lined up by McLaren in preparation for the 2019 season Formula 1 is therefore known, after the various announcements from the English team on Monday noon. Lando Norris will join Carlos Sainz Jr for a 100% new duo.

McLaren is delighted to announce that @LandoNorris will complete the team's driver line-up for the 2019 season. #Lando19 https://t.co/aNndtP3WQE

- McLaren (@ McLarenF1) September 3, 2018

McLaren Racing director Zak Brown therefore ousted Stoffel Vandoorne, who had been a McLaren protégé since 2013. In place of the Belgian, the team boss sees Lando Norris « a great talent, brimming with potential, deliberately placed under McLaren's protection for exactly these reasons. »

The American businessman continues his analysis of the pilot of Formula 2, winner of the Formula 3 European Championship in its first year in 2017. “We knew he was fast and he learns very quickly. He has his head on his shoulders. We can see great potential for our future togetherhe says.

The investments we made during his career progression were well deserved, with work in the simulator and driving time with the single-seater, especially as he continued to prove his abilities behind the wheel as well as in the company of the engineers. » Lando Norris is also seen as a “an integral part of the team’s restructuring plan”.

The average age of the duo Sainz Jr-Norris will only be 21,5 years old, which radically changes the pair Alonsobutton, which exceeded thirty between 2015 and 2016. “They are an impressive duo who, despite their youth, have valuable Formula 1 experience (for Sainz Jr) and McLaren (for Norris) », attests Zak Brown.