Norris committed to McLaren as Toro Rosso make an approach
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[June 08, 2018]
By Alan Baldwin
LONDON (Reuters) - Formula One reserve
driver Lando Norris expressed his commitment to McLaren on Wednesday
after reports that Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso wanted to draft him in
as a replacement for New Zealander Brendon Hartley.
Norris, 18, is leading the Formula Two championship and seen by
former world champions McLaren as a bright prospect for the future.
"I'm flattered by the stories but I'm focused on F2 and committed to
McLaren," said the teenager. "I leave this sort of thing to my
management."
Reports emerged in Italy after the Monaco Grand Prix that Toro
Rosso, who last year loaned their Spanish driver Carlos Sainz to
Renault, had Norris in their sights as a possible replacement for
Hartley.
The Kiwi, who won the Le Mans 24 Hours and World Endurance (WEC)
title with Porsche last year, made his Formula One debut late last
season but has made mistakes and under-performed compared to French
team mate Pierre Gasly.
The BBC reported that the Toro Rosso approach had been rejected.
"We are not surprised that other teams approach our drivers. They
clearly believe they are as talented as we do," a McLaren spokesman
was quoted as saying.
McLaren and Toro Rosso team members were travelling to Montreal for
this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix and not immediately available for
comment.
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Norris would be in line to replace either two times world champion
Fernando Alonso or Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne at McLaren if the
former decides to leave Formula One or the latter is dropped at the
end of the year.
Vandoorne has struggled to match Alonso, who is now 36 and also
committed to competing in the WEC with Toyota.
The Spaniard wants to win the 'Triple Crown' of the Indianapolis
500, Le Mans and Formula One's Monaco Grand Prix/world championship
and is competing at the French track this month.
McLaren are also considering setting up an Indycar team, which could
take Alonso back to Indianapolis.
The BBC quoted "one source close to the situation" as saying McLaren
had an October deadline to offer Norris a full-time race seat or
leave him free to join another team for the last two races.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Toby Davis)
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