Brown: Norris "a future world champion"

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has described Lando Norris as a future world champion in Formula One. The young British driver was handed a promotion from F2 earlier this week, replacing Stoffel Vandoorne at the team for the 2019 season.

Currently in a heated battle with George Russell of Mercedes for the F2 championship, Norris has been one of the stand out drivers in the feeder categories throughout his career, something that Brown believes will make him a champion in the future.

“He’s unbelievably gifted, we just need to make sure we mature him into the sport the right way,” Brown said.

“What I think he is is a future world champion.

“I think people ask about the Lewis comparison because he’s British and McLaren, as opposed to is he the next Michael Schumacher, because what’s the difference between Michael and Lewis? I think it’s the British world champion thing.

“We don’t want to draw comparisons to other drivers, that’s part of what might put too much pressure on him too quickly.

“We think he’s a future world champion; Lewis is a unique individual who may go down as the most successful Formula One driver ever.”

The pressure certainly will be on the young Brit's shoulders early on, going up against solid midfield driver Carlos Sainz who will be making the switch from Renault to McLaren next season.