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McLaren's Lando Norris has set his eyes on a switch from the European Formula 3 series to either Formula 2 or Japanese Super Formula in 2018. In F3, Norris currently lies in second place in the Drivers' Championship,18 points behind Maximilian Gunther who currently leads.
With four race weekends remaining of the 2017 season to be held at Zandvoort, the Nurburgring, the Red Bull Ring, and Hockenheim, Norris still has a chance to win the championship. Regardless of how the season ends for the 17 year old however, he is still targeting a switch to a bigger series for 2018.
"I’m not 100 per cent, but I am pretty sure I won’t be doing F3 next year,” he said. "I don’t think it’s going to be Formula 1 next year. I think it’s more likely to be Formula 2 or Super Formula." Norris most recently had his first taste of Formula 1 machinery testing for McLaren at F1's in-season test in Hungary. When asked how the test went, Norris replied: "slightly better than I expected it would go," having lapped faster than Stoffel Vandoorne on the ultrasoft tyre.
Talking about Norris' test, McLaren's sporting director Eric Boullier admitted that the youngster had "impressed us all with his maturity, professionalism and speed," adding that the driver is "a potential star of the future."
Norris also revealed that he believes that McLaren will sign Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne for another season, which would mean that a vacancy within the team would mean that he would not step up to F1. “I don’t think the test changes anything for this season. Nothing is planned. McLaren is trying to keep Fernando and Stoffel. It’s not really up to me," he said.
In 2016, Norris had a very impressive year, winning the championship titles in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, Formula Renault 2.0 NEC and the Toyota Racing Series. This ended in him receiving the 2016 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, which saw him get his test chance with the Woking-based team and a simulator role.
A move to Formula 2 would be a very good move for Norris, with a number of drivers who are currently on the F1 grid graduating from the series when it was formerly known as GP2. This would also emulate the path of Vandoorne who currently drivers for McLaren, with the Belgian dominating the series in 2015 to take the title.
Chris Soulsby
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