McLaren to give Norris another run at Monza

After making his official F1 debut at Spa on Friday, Lando Norris will be back behind the wheel of McLaren's MCL33 at Monza next week.

The F2 racer is currently being evaluated by the Woking outfit for a possible seat alongside Carlos Sainz in 2019, and so far he's impressed his employer.

"He did a great job," McLaren sporting director Gil de Ferran.

"One thing he has is great adaptability to new situations, I’ve seen that in the tests he’s had and also here.

"We wanted to bring him here as part of his development with a lower downforce level, more cars on track, track evolution and really give him that experience.

"It was the same thing, he came up to speed very quickly and did a fine job, not making any mistakes.

"He will be in at Monza as we look to help develop his skills."

• Wolff determined to secure 'short-term' solution for Ocon

McLaren's initiative could also involve showcasing Norris' talent to convince Toro Rosso to take on the 18-year-old next season as part of a package destined to secure the services of James Key, the Faenza-based team's technical director who has been contracted by McLaren, although the timing of his move to Woking is still unknown at this stage.

In reality, the man with the strongest chance of finding himself opposite Sainz in 2019 is Esteban Ocon, at least if Mercedes can convince McLaren to hire its protégé on a temporary basis, and perhaps as soon as next weekend!

However, while Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said in Spa that discussions about Ocon's future were ongoing with all concerned parties, he insisted that several 'chess figures' would have to be put in place for the Frenchman to race with McLaren in the short term.

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