In the run-up to the start of pre-season testing Motorsport Week brings you left-field reflections and stories of teams, drivers and reserves that will be part of the Formula 1 paddock in 2019.
McLaren protégé Lando Norris will be one of four full-time rookies on the 2019 Formula 1 grid, and while he missed out on last year’s Formula 2 title to George Russell, he nonetheless holds a stellar junior record.
Most drivers would be satisfied with one title under their belt in any given season but in 2016 Norris capped the year with three championships to his name.
The first of those came in the New Zealand-based Toyota Racing Series, held across five successive weekends through January and February, giving young racers an opportunity to grow through the European winter.
Norris won six of the 15 races to comfortably finish ahead of then-Force India protégé Jehan Daruvala.
Norris’ main 2016 programme came in Formula Renault, which at that level gave drivers the chance to compete in both Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and Formula Renault 2.0 NEC.
Norris comfortably won both of the available titles and it was his performance on his Monaco debut – both in qualifying and from the back of the grid in the rain-limited race after his times were deleted for a technical irregularity – that brought him to the attention of the Formula 1 paddock.
The Formula Renault crowns brought his 2016 tally up to three – and by early 2017 he was under Zak Brown’s wing at McLaren.
The Formula 3 title in 2017 was followed by the (loathed by Norris) runner-up spot in Formula 2 in 2018, and Formula 1 beckoned for 2019.
