Norris is "ready" for F1, says Brown

McLaren team boss Zak Brown believes that junior driver Lando Norris is "ready for Formula One" and is in contention for the McLaren seat next year.

Norris is just 18-years-old and he is among four contenders to drive for McLaren next season, according to his boss.

The Brit is currently locked in a title battle for the Formula Two series this season, but he has driven for the Woking-based side in the last two FP1s.

"So far, Lando has done an excellent job," Brown told BBC Sport. "He's very fast, just a few tenths off Fernando (Alonso). He's definitely on the pace and he seems to be quite relaxed."

Norris was the slowest in this morning's FP1, but only 0.8 seconds off Fernando Alonso in the other MCL33 - but both were driving at a similar pace this morning.

"Everything we do with Lando is a bit of test," Brown added. "He is our test driver. We want to give him a bit of experience. Putting him in for some practice ones is to see how he is getting on.

"He is ready for Formula One. We have three or four drivers on the shortlist and he is one of them."

Carlos Sainz Jr, who is currently at Renault, looks like Norris' main competitor for the seat, with Stoffel Vandoorne still currently fighting for his seat!