Amid reports that McLaren will be obliged to provide Lando Norris with a Formula 1 drive in 2019, should he win the 2018 Formula 2 championship, the 18-year-old is keeping his feet firmly on the ground but would not mind giving his team a headache when it comes to making a driver choice next year.
Speaking to Crash, Norris said, "Obviously [giving them] a headache would be nice! It’s good for me, and at least they’re thinking about what position I could be in."
"I think they’re very happy with Fernando and Stoffel at the moment. It’s in a position now where there’s a lot of development going on, and having a slightly more experienced driver is a help.
"The rate of development would be slightly faster than if I jumped in, because I’d have to get used to F1 a bit. So I think the position they’re in now, they’re reasonably happy with."
Norris has a had a stellar junior career and saw his shares shoot through the roof after winning his debut Formula 2 race from pole position with Carlin at the series season opener in Bahrain.
The youngster added, "I guess it’s the first year where if I did win F2, I wouldn’t be able to do another year, and every year I’ve taken a step up into the next category. It could be the first year where I don’t get this opportunity to step up."
"But I don’t think that’s something I need to be thinking about for now. I just need to be focusing on the job I have to do, winning Formula 2, and worrying about that later in the season," concluded Norris.
Currently, McLaren have Fernando Alonso spearheading the team with Stoffel Vandoorne in the sister car. Speculation, doing the rounds in the paddock, is that the veteran Spaniard may depart F1 to pursue the Triple Crown and thus free up a seat for Norris.
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