McLaren protege tells F1 Report that Alonso's 2018 decision likely to have a bearing on where he drives next year
Monday 28 August 2017 08:25, UK
Lando Norris has told the F1 Report that Fernando Alonso's next move could have a big impact on his own McLaren future.
The rising British star and McLaren junior driver, 17, currently leads the Formula 3 standings and dazzled on his official debut in an F1 car, setting the fastest time on Day Two of Hungary testing in the MCL32 last month.
Indeed, McLaren were so impressed by Norris that team boss Eric Boullier described him as a "star of the future".
There could be a full-time opening at McLaren, too, as while Stoffel Vandoorne has been confirmed for 2018, doubts remain over Alonso with the two-time world champion's contract expiring at the end of the season.
And Norris, when asked by Sky F1's Marc Priestley if he had held talks with McLaren management, admitted that Alonso's decision is key to his future,
"It really depends on what Fernando does next year," Norris said on this week's F1 Report, which is available to watch in full here.
"McLaren are doing their best to keep him, he's an extremely good driver as he has showed with a not perfect package this year."
With no more in-season tests in 2017, Norris added that he was unsure when he would next to get to drive the car.
"I need to speak to Zak [Brown, executive director] and Eric to see when they can to put me in the car," he said. "But it's not really down to me, it's down to them and whether they rely on me."
But Norris was proud to have been praised by Boullier after his efforts at the in-season test, and is aiming for a full-time F1 seat in the future.
"It was a big confidence boost," Norris explained. "He's brought up a lot of young drivers in the past from the junior categories to Formula 1, so he's not going to be talking rubbish."
