Norris: “We won’t fight Mercedes and Ferrari”

McLaren puts everything back on track by changing its management and its crew. The Woking team will field a new crew in 2019 with Carlos Sainz Jr lined up alongside Lando Norris.

The reigning champion of the F3 European Championship which is evolving this year in F2 with Carlin will take his first steps in F1 in a team very popular with the media... even if the results are below expectations for the British manufacturer which has not won since the 2012 Brazilian GP.

“Rule #1 is to beat your teammate, commented the 18-year-old Briton. Apart from that, it will be a difficult year for McLaren because we will not be aiming for victory. We will not fight against Mercedes et Ferrari, but I would like to say that we can progress compared to the current situation. »

Lando Norris will have the advantage of evolving with Carlos Sainz Jr and not Fernando Alonso, the Asturian being renowned for being difficult with his teammates. The future rookie will still have significant pressure on his shoulders, while Stoffel Vandoorne will be fired after only two seasons.

“Obviously I would like to say that I am better than the others, but I already have something to prove next year, whether against Carlos or in general, added Lando Norris. It's too hard to say what will happen. I think everything should be fine as long as I do a good job and put in the necessary effort. »

“They want to help me develop so that I become a necessary driver. Every driver is different, but I just hope that what I do will be enough because that's not all I'm aiming for with McLaren. I want to win with them. It won't be in the next two years, it's a longer project than just being on the team for a year,” said the resident of the McLaren Young Driver Program.