Formula 1: Lando Norris just made a huge announcement
By Asher Fair
Lando Norris, in typical Lando Norris fashion, did what Lando Norris does: provided Formula 1 with a level of entertainment that nobody else can.
The last 36 to 48 hours in Formula 1 have seen some crazy announcements following a bizarre weekend at Bahrain International Circuit that started with a dog bringing practice to a halt, and things have really ramped up over the last seven or eight.
The Fittipaldi name is set to return to the sport for the first time in 26 years and become the first family to produce four Formula 1 drivers, as Pietro Fittipaldi is set to fill in for the injured Romain Grosjean at Haas for this Sunday’s Sakhir Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit outer layout.
Speaking of Haas, they confirmed yesterday that Nikita Mazepin is set to be promoted from Formula 2 to compete for the team as a rookie in 2021.
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Additionally, for the first time in his career, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is set to miss a race weekend this weekend, ending a record 265-race streak of Formula 1 starts. He tested positive for COVID-19 after his victory on Sunday.
Fortunately, Mercedes were able to draft his replacement quite well, negotiating with Williams to allow Mercedes junior driver George Russell to fill in behind the wheel of his W11 alongside Valtteri Bottas for the weekend.
Now back to Haas: the Schumacher name is now set to return to Formula 1 as well for the first time since seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher retired in 2012, as Mick is set to receive a promotion from Formula 2 to drive alongside Mazepin next year.
Lando Norris joined in the fun by jokingly making an announcement that nobody saw coming.
He is set to drive for McLaren in the final two races of the 2020 season!
Just announcing I’m racing also in the next two weekends of @F1 with @McLarenF1!! So excited!!
— Lando Norris (@LandoNorris) December 2, 2020
Yes. “McLaren”; the same McLaren he already drives for. The reason nobody saw it coming is because it was already implied — and quite late!
Fortunately, McLaren had already said they are okay with such a deal; Norris is, after all, under contract with the Woking-based team through at least the 2021 season, and that has been the case for quite some time. He has competed full-time for the team since the start of the 2019 season.
(Lando, for future reference, please read: McLaren confirm Lando Norris through 2021)
Okay, maybe some saw it coming, knowing how goofy Norris is, but that’s beside the point. On a serious note, props to him for delivering some much-needed levity at a time when there are a lot of crazy things going on in not only in Formula 1 but the world in general. Many fans immediately got the joke and left comments playing along with the humor that only Norris could have provided.
Fans will not be allowed in attendance this weekend, which has become the norm in so many sports in this largely virtual year, so be sure to watch Norris make his 37th start for McLaren at Bahrain International Circuit in the Sakhir Grand Prix this Sunday, December 6 on-screen. This race is set to be broadcast live on ESPN2 beginning at 12:10 p.m. ET.
Through 15 races on the 17-race 2020 schedule, he sits in a career-high seventh place in the driver standings with a career-high third place finish in the season-opening Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring.
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He hasn’t given up on securing the “best of the rest” title with a fourth place finish in the standings, and he still has an outside chance to do so if other drivers fade, but unlike in other sports, you won’t see anybody openly tanking in Formula 1.