Norris and Gasly can't wait to race new F1 cars on fast tracks

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Lando Norris and Pierre Gasly are both looking forward to racing their respective team's new designs on F1's classic high-speed circuits such as Silverstone or Suzuka.

Formula 1's new technical regulations have ushered in a new era for the sport, one that should see drivers battle more closely up and down the field.

To boost the spectacle on the track, teams are relying on ground effect aerodynamics, an approach that increases a car's downforce in the corners while generating much less dirty air in its wake, which in turn will allow drivers to follow each other more closely.

Teams rolled out their new designs last week in Barcelona, where drivers gave the new concept the thumbs up.

McLaren was among the front-runners in Spain and Norris is impatient to tackle a high-speed layout onboard his new MCL36.

"I look forward to the high-speed circuits which we’ll be going to," Norris told the media in Barcelona.

"That’s obviously the type of corners where you tend not to be able to follow so much over the last few years.

"You should be able to follow much closer on those types of tracks and it should prove to be good racing and exciting for everyone to watch.

"We’ll see. That’s something that will come over the year, with developments again. But I look forward to the racing this year."

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Sitting alongside Norris, AlphaTauri's Gasly admitted that Grand Prix racing's new-spec cars are "fun" to drive and should be a blast on F1's classic fast tracks.

"I must say they are fun," commented the Frenchman. "As Lando said, the car seems to work really well in the high-speed and that’s where we get usually the most excited.

"So really looking forward to Silverstone, Suzuka, all these tracks.

"So, if we are able to be a lot closer to each other in racing that could make a lot of adrenaline, which is always what we are looking for. So, excited for that."

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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.