Teenager Norris succeeds Button as McLaren reserve driver

Teenager Norris succeeds Button as McLaren reserve driver

Paul Macdonald

Monday 6 November 2017 13:00

Jenson Button's role as test and reserve driver with McLaren will be filled by promising 17-year-old Briton Lando Norris next season.

McLaren have confirmed that British teenager Lando Norris will become the Formula One team's test and reserve driver in 2018.

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The 17-year-old tested with McLaren in Hungary in August and will now replace Jenson Button as back-up to Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne next season.

Veteran Button had given up his seat after the 2016 campaign but remained involved last term in a support role that will now be taken by his promising young compatriot, who won the Formula 3 tite at the first attempt in October.

"I'm so excited to be joining McLaren as test and reserve driver for 2018," Norris said in a statement on McLaren's website.

"The last 12 months have been an incredible journey for me – I've enjoyed every single minute – and this is just an amazing way to bring the year to an end.

McLaren Test & Reserve Driver! Thanks Zak, Eric and everyone at @McLarenF1 for this awesome opportunity ???????? pic.twitter.com/uADASuZ7X1 — Lando Norris (@LandoNorris) 6 november 2017

"I'm really looking forward to helping the team, starting next week with the tyre test at Interlagos, and I will work harder than ever to learn and develop across the next year. I have two excellent teachers in Fernando and Stoffel, and I will do my best to help with the team's efforts to get back to the front."