British teenager Lando Norris has admitted he would have run the gauntlet of guns in Brazil to take another step on his path to Formula One stardom.
Norris’ McLaren team scrapped their two-day test in Sao Paulo earlier this month after a series of harrowing security incidents overshadowed the penultimate round of the campaign.
Eight of Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes team were robbed at gunpoint, while Pirelli, F1’s tyre supplier who were due to take part in the test with McLaren, were targeted after the race on Sunday, but escaped unharmed.
Norris, the heir to Hamilton’s throne after a string of impressive displays in the junior ranks of motor racing, had flown to South America to take part for McLaren. But he left without turning a wheel in anger and another chance to impress. He departed Brazil less than 24 hours after he arrived.
“If it was on, then yes, 100 per cent,” said Norris, 18, when asked if he wanted the test to go ahead. “It was another opportunity to drive, and one you have to take. You do what you can and sacrifice other things to go and do it.
“I was looking forward to doing another test in Formula One. It was in Brazil, which I think is a pretty cool track to drive at. I was obviously disappointed.”
Norris turned heads with his impressive display in his first official F1 outing at August’s test in Hungary – in which he was second only to Sebastian Vettel – before going on to seal the prestigious F3 championship with two races to spare in Germany last month.
He was rewarded by McLaren after he was promoted to the role of reserve driver for 2018. It was also confirmed at the recent Mexican Grand Prix that Norris will partner Fernando Alonso at the prestigious Daytona 24-hour sportscar race in January.
The teenager from Glastonbury is in Abu Dhabi this weekend after he was handed his Formula Two debut by Campos Racing. He qualified 14th of 20 runners at the Yas Marina circuit on Friday.
“2019 or 2020 is the goal and the most realistic aim to land a full-time drive in Formula One,” Norris added. “It is hard to say whether it will be with McLaren. Of course, I would want it to be, but they are happy with Fernando and Stoffel Vandoorne and it is hard to know what they are going to choose moving forwards.
“I need to respect the help they have given me over the years and what they can offer me if I wait. If they say in 2020 that they do have a seat for me then I have got to respect that. They have helped me, and taken me on as a junior driver, so I would wait one year to drive for them.”
