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Formula 1: Lando Norris to replace Stoffel Vandoorne at McLaren in 2019

By Asher Fair

MONZA, ITALY - AUGUST 31: Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren F1 talks with an engineer in the garage during practice for the Formula One Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo di Monza on August 31, 2018 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images)
MONZA, ITALY - AUGUST 31: Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren F1 talks with an engineer in the garage during practice for the Formula One Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo di Monza on August 31, 2018 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images) /
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McLaren reserve driver Lando Norris is set to replace Stoffel Vandoorne as one of the team’s two full-time drivers in the 2019 Formula 1 season.

It was revealed earlier today that McLaren and Stoffel Vandoorne, who has driven full-time for the team since the start of the 2017 Formula 1 season, are set to part ways after the 2018 season comes to an end.

Shortly thereafter, it was revealed that the replacement for the 26-year-old Belgian is set to be McLaren reserve driver Lando Norris, the 18-year-old Briton who currently drives for Carlin in Formula 2.

Here is what Norris had to say about getting the opportunity to drive for McLaren in 2019, according to the BBC.

"“This is a special moment, one I could only hope would become reality. To be announced as a race driver for McLaren is a dream come true.”"

In April, it was revealed that two-time Fernando Alonso would likely not be returning to McLaren next season, and it was revealed that Norris would likely be the driver who replaces him.

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This speculation heated up in early June when it was revealed that Scuderia Toro Rosso, the Red Bull Racing junior team, attempted to sign Norris to replace the struggling Brendon Hartley but McLaren blocked the deal from happening.

However, this did not happen.

Alonso did, in fact, announce in mid-August that the 2018 Formula 1 season will be his final season in the sport, but shortly after he made this announcement, it was revealed that current Renault Sport driver Carlos Sainz Jr., who is set to be replaced by current Red Bull Racing driver Daniel Ricciardo next year, would be his replacement as opposed to Norris.

After the confirmation of Vandoorne’s impending departure, it was believed that McLaren would not take long to announce who his replacement driver will be given how quickly they signed Sainz Jr. following Alonso’s retirement announcement, and indeed they did not.

Following two consecutive seasons of rolling with the same driver lineup consisting of Alonso and Vandoorne, McLaren are set to have a whole new look next year with Sainz Jr. and Norris driving for the team.

In 2017, Norris competed full-time in the FIA European Formula 3 Championship for the first time in his career. He drove for Carlin and won nine of the season’s 30 races en route to winning the championship. He has only earned one victory driving for Carlin this year in what it his first season as a full-time Formula 2 driver, but he sits in second place in the championship standings behind Mercedes junior driver George Russell.

In both the 2017 and 2018 Formula 1 seasons, Norris has test driven for McLaren.

Top 10 Formula 1 drivers of all-time. dark. Next

How will Lando Norris perform as a full-time Formula 1 driver next year driving for McLaren? Will he live up to all of the hype surrounding his arrival in the sport?

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