Norris grew up "watching Lewis and Fernando at McLaren"

Lando Norris has revealed that McLaren was the team he enjoyed watching when he was younger, especially due to the performances of Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel, as he continues to impress during testing for McLaren in Hungary this week.

At just 18-years-old, Norris is one of the most promising prospects in Formula One and has won titles at all the junior levels, with a position on the starting grid in F1 set to come sooner rather than later.

In his very early career, MotoGP was an option, with Valentino Rossi emerging as one of his idols, but F1 would soon take over as he started to become inspired by the likes of Alonso and Hamilton.

“Growing up watching Lewis and Fernando, my favourite car was the McLaren in that chrome and fluorescent orange," Norris told the Guardian.

"McLaren were one of the first teams I liked and supported.”

Norris insists it is important to get on with things whenever a race does not go his way, as sometimes the driver cannot affect everything from behind the wheel.

“I’ve learned to try and not be down as much when it goes wrong," he continued.

READ MORE: McLaren strategy was 'perfect' - Alonso
READ MORE: How YOU can drive Hamilton's 2017 title-winning Mercedes

"Sometimes there is nothing you can do about it. In the past I would have been the opposite, I would have been annoyed. I am still a bit up and down but have learned you don’t need to be down so much.”

“Sometimes it can go wrong and I come away happy and positive and know I can improve, and sometimes I think everything is terrible and that I am not very good. And that makes me annoyed with myself.”

For McLaren, Stoffel Vandoorne has not been performing well in 2018, and there has been speculation that Norris could be called up to replace the Belgian as early as the Italian Grand Prix. Although he would not be asked to comment on the rumours, he is happy for the opportunity to simulate races in Hungary.

“It is challenging knowing that, if you do join, a lot of work is needed to help the team develop the car," Norris concluded.

“If you do eventually get there, it makes a win sweeter. If you were there for two years and ended up winning a championship in year three or year four, that would make it a better win for the team and for yourself."