F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Brown could see Norris tackling Indy 500 with McLaren

Lando Norris has hinted in the past at a desire to tackle the Indy 500, and McLaren racing boss Zak Brown "could see that happening".

Norris is contracted to McLaren until the end of 2025, and the young gun is unlikely to indulge in a one-off at Indianapolis in the next three years as his focus will be exclusively on F1.

However, should Norris remain with the Woking-based outfit beyond 2025, he could be tempted to take a shot at Americas' blue riband event, with his team's American affiliate, Arrow McLaren SP, having expressed in the past an interest in racing at the Brickyard.

And his biggest fan for such an endeavor might will be his own boss, a man who was instrumental in the past in taking one Fernando Alonso to Indy.

Read also:

"Lando’s mentioned he’d like to do the Indy 500 one day," Brown said in an interview published on the McLaren website.

"And of course, one of my first days on the job was bringing over Fernando Alonso to do the Indy 500, which was such an awesome experience for everybody.

"So yeah, you know, the calendars are pretty crazy these days, but I think racing drivers like to drive racing cars and, yeah, I could see that happening."

Under Brown guidance, McLaren has not only branched out into IndyCar, but also into the Extreme E off-road series and into the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

But there's one more field of expertise that Brown would like to add to his team's is considering: topflight sportscar racing, a category where he is already present as a co-owner of LMP2 squad United Autosport.

"I’d love to see us at Le Mans in sportscar racing," Brown said. "We have a lot going on, the stars all need to align, be in the right place at the right time, make sure we’re happy with our existing programmes.

"But if I could wave a magic wand and be in one other racing series, it would be in sportscars."

Should McLaren, which won Le Mans in 1995 with its iconic F1, ever return to the endurance classic, Norris' skills would likely also come in handy as he proved in 2018 when the Briton raced in the Daytona 24 Hours with Fernando Alonso in a United Autosports LMP2 Ligier.

Asked if he sees McLaren enjoying a banner year and winning a title in each of the categories in which it races, Brown offered a measured response.

"I’ll start by dreaming that they win each one," he said.

"I don’t want to get too greedy and say in one year but that would be great. And I think you got to shoot, shoot for the stars and see where you end up when you’re all said and done."

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

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.

Recent Posts

Prost: ‘Very difficult’ for Renault to return to F1 in the future

Four-time Formula 1 world champion Alain Prost has suggested the sport may have seen the…

5 hours ago

Ocon: Haas’ expanded partnership with Toyota is ‘fantastic’ for 2026

Esteban Ocon is brimming with optimism about Haas’ future – and a big part of…

7 hours ago

Norris looks ahead to 2026: ‘I would love to race Lewis more’

Fresh from clinching his maiden Formula 1 world championship last weekend in Abu Dhabi, Lando…

8 hours ago

Herta offers feedback on first official F2 test in Abu Dhabi

Cadillac F1 reserve driver Colton Herta made a strong start to his preparations for the…

9 hours ago

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Born on this day in 1909

On this day in 1909, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana was finally completed. The…

11 hours ago

‘Dirty games were played’: Marko exposes Horner’s lies at Red Bull

In the high-stakes world of Formula 1, where alliances shift faster than a pit stop…

12 hours ago