Nyck De Vries On Course for 2019 McLaren Seat?

McLaren's junior drivers are both competing in Formula 2 this year under the watchful eye of Zak Brown and the Woking-based team.

Nyck De Vries has been told he must beat fellow McLaren junior driver Lando Norris this year in Formula 2 to stand a chance of racing for McLaren in 2019. The Dutchman finished 7th in the F2 drivers' championship last season but will face the highly rated Briton Lando Norris head to head in 2018.

De Vries believes that although he has more experience in racing in F2, he is at a disadvantage in earning a race seat with the British team due to Norris' close association with McLaren executive director Zak Brown.

Although he might believe he is at a disadvantage, he has accepted the challenge and knows that beating Norris could open the door to a future with McLaren in F1 sooner rather than later.

"That was literally said to me by director Zak Brown and it is in black and white. So I have it in my own hands,” De Vries said.

"Lando has a certain preference because of his good relationship with Zak Brown.

“His father pays Brown to manage Lando. But if I live up to expectations this season, I will be in F1 in 2019.”

De Vries will be racing for Prema this year but Lando Norris will be racing for Carlin, the opening round in Bahrain is just a week away and should be action packed as usual in Formula 2.