Lando Norris: McLaren promote young Briton to test and reserve driver for 2018

McLaren have promoted rising British star Lando Norris to be their official test and reserve driver in 2018.

McLaren executive director Zak Brown described the 17-year-old as "an outstanding young talent".

The move also means Norris would replace Fernando Alonso or Stoffel Vandoorne if either was unable to race.

Norris won the European Formula Three series this year and will race in either Formula Two or Japan's Super Formula in 2018.

He impressed in his first full test for McLaren, setting the second fastest time at the Hungarian Grand Prix behind Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari.

Brown said Norris had proved himself to be "one of the very best up-and-coming single-seater drivers in the world".

He added: "His summer test for McLaren was also remarkably impressive, and was further proof that he is ready to step up and take on a role of this size, scope and responsibility.

"At McLaren, we are all extremely keen to help him achieve his goal of racing in Formula 1."

Norris, who will share a car with Alonso at January's Daytona 24 Hours sportscar race, said: "I'm so excited to be joining McLaren as test and reserve driver for 2018.

"The last 12 months have been an incredible journey for me - I've enjoyed every single minute and this is just an amazing way to bring the year to an end."

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Good luck, Lando. Look forward to a young British talent coming through in F1. And for those smug people criticising LH..if you had the opportunity to legally get out of paying a chunk of tax you'd darn well do it..if you claim you'd be happy to pay it you are lying!
@81 Bakhta Verkubic

If you read the caption attached to the picture at the top of the page it gives you the answer to that. His 18th birthday is next week.
Not sure how he will race if the regular drivers are unable to do so. They raised the age limit for the super licence to 18 after the emergence of Verstappen.
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Move over Lando, this is Nando speaking. That's an order!
Hope he does really well.

Only advice is he should wait a while before getting a private jet as this can be a taxing experience, or not!
That's great news hope he's dicing with max at the front in a few years.