Norris racked up simulator miles ahead of Brazilian GP

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McLaren's Lando Norris spared no effort to prepare for this week's Brazilian Grand Prix, getting reacquainted with Interlagos' track with hours of simulator work.

Norris' only experience of the 4.3 km Autodromo Carlos Pace was a run with McLaren in FP1 during last year's event.

"I can’t wait to go racing in Brazil," said the 20-year-old.

"It’s been the scene of some awesome races in the past, and I’m hoping for a good race of my own on Sunday.

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"FP1 last year gave me the opportunity to learn the track, but I’ve been working hard in the simulator to make sure I can maximise performance as soon as we get started on Friday.

"There’s still work to be done and we’ll be pushing hard in every session to see how close we can get to the top teams.

"They’re still a long way off and our nearest rivals are very close but I’m looking forward to some good racing."

Along with Norris, Carlos Sainz will spearhead McLaren's fight to preserve its fourth place in the Constructors' standings which will be the focus of the Woking-based outfit in the final two races of the 2019 season.

©McLaren

"We head to Brazil seeking to extract the maximum from our car and score more points on the board," said Sainz.

"The season is not over yet, with two more races to go, and there are still many points to fight for.

"Confirming our fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship is the target and I'll push hard until the end for that sixth place in the Drivers’ Championship, despite the difficulty of the task!"

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.