Lando Norris Joins McLaren In 2019, Vandoorne Out

NORRIS JOINS McLAREN IN 2019, STOFFEL VANDOORNE TO LEAVE

    Lando Norris will replace Stoffel Vandoorne at McLaren for the 2019 Formula 1 season.

    The European Formula 3 champion and Formula 2 front-runner joins Carlos Sainz Jnr at the team, becoming the first rookie to be confirmed for the upcoming season.

    Norris became McLaren’s test and reserve driver after winning the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award for young drivers in 2016. He’s completed a number of tests with the team, including two FP1 outings.

    “To be announced as a race driver for McLaren is a dream come true,” he said. “Although I’ve been part of the team for a while now, this is a special moment, one I could only hope would become reality.

    I’d like to thank the whole team for this amazing opportunity and for believing in me. I’m also extremely grateful for the commitment McLaren has already shown my development, allowing me to build my experience in a Formula 1 car in both testing and on Fridays during the past two race weekends.

    For the remainder of 2018, my focus remains firmly on the Formula 2 championship. My objective is to win the title before joining McLaren full-time, which will be tough but I will fight as hard as I can for the remaining four races.

    I’ll also be working closely with McLaren at every opportunity to learn as much as possible from the drivers, engineers, and mechanics to give myself the best preparation ahead of next year.”

    Norris started his car racing career in the Ginetta Junior championship in 2014, before switching to single seaters with the MSA Formula in 2015. Since 2015, Norris has claimed the MSA Formula title, Formula Renault Eurocup and NEC titles, Toyota Racing Series title, and the European Formula 3 championship victory.

    He finished second in last year’s Macau Grand Prix and is currently second in the Formula 2 championship, behind Mercedes junior George Russel.

    Norris is the fourth McLaren junior driver to be promoted to F1, following in the footsteps of Lewis Hamilton, Kevin Magnussen, and Vandoorne.

    The move means Vandoorne joins the list of current drivers out of a seat for the upcoming season.

    “I’m very grateful to McLaren for investing their faith in me over the past five years,” he said. “I joined McLaren as a young driver and have since seen my career progress within the team from test and development driver to reserve driver and then to full-time race driver.

    While we haven’t achieved the success we’d all hoped for, I’ve really enjoyed the past two seasons racing for McLaren and I have a great relationship with everyone in the team.”

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Article Written By: Bethonie Waring
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Sainz Joins McLaren In 2019

McLAREN SIGNS SAINZ AS ALONSO REPLACEMENT

    Former Red Bull junior Carlos Sainz Jnr will replace Fernando Alonso at McLaren for the 2019 Formula 1 season.

    Sainz, who switched to Renault at the end of last year, is the first driver to be confirmed for McLaren’s 2019 line-up.

    He steps into the shoes of fellow Spaniard Alonso, who has confirmed he won’t race in F1 in 2019.

    “I’m delighted to finally be able to confirm that I’ll be a McLaren driver from the 2019 season,” Sainz said. “It’s something I’ve been looking at for a while and I’m very excited about this next chapter in my career.

    I’ve been a McLaren fan for as long as I can remember. It’s a great name in the sport with an incredible heritage and the list of drivers that have raced for McLaren over the years are among the heroes of Formula 1.

    Fernando is of course one of them, so it’s particularly special that I’ll be taking his seat as part of the next generation of Spanish racing drivers behind the wheel of a McLaren.”

    Sainz joined F1 in 2015, competing at Toro Rosso alongside Max Verstappen. He managed to finish fourth with the team at Singapore last season before switching to Renault as part of the Toro Rosso-Honda-Renault switch.

    McLaren is yet to confirm who will race alongside Sainz in 2019, with current driver Stoffel Vandoorne and Force India’s Esteban Ocon also on the shortlist.

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Fernando Alonso To Leave F1 In 2019

ALONSO ANNOUNCES HE WILL NOT RACE IN FORMULA 1 IN 2019

    Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso won’t compete in F1 next season, the Spaniard has confirmed.

    Alonso, who made his F1 debut in 2001, said he would be “exploring new adventures” next season, but left the door open for an F1 come back down the line.

    “After 17 wonderful years in this amazing sport, it’s time for me to make a change and move on. I have enjoyed every single minute of those incredible seasons and I cannot thank enough the people who contributed to make them all so special.

    There are still several grands prix to go this season, and I will take part in them with more commitment and passion than ever.

    Let’s see what the future brings; new challenges are around the corner. I’m having one of the happiest times ever in my life, but I need to go on exploring new adventures.

    I want to thank everyone at McLaren. My heart is with the team forever. I know they will come back stronger and better in the future and it could be the right moment for me to be back in the series; that would make me really happy. I have built so many great relationships with many fantastic people at McLaren, and they have given me the opportunity to broaden my horizons and race in other categories. I feel I am a more complete driver now [more] than ever.

    I made this decision some months ago and it was a firm one. Nevertheless, I would like to sincerely thank Chase Carey and Liberty Media for the efforts made to change my mind and everyone who has contracted me during this time.

    Finally, I would also like to thank my former teams, team-mates, competitors, colleagues, partners, journalists and everyone I have worked with in my F1 career. And, especially, my fans all over the world. I am quite sure our paths will cross again in the future.”

    Alonso has taken 32 wins in his 17 years in F1. In 2005, he became the youngest F1 world champion. In 2006, he beat Michael Schumacher to become a two-time champion.

    “[Fernando’s] 17 years in the sport, as arguably the pre-eminent driver of his generation and undoubtedly an F1 great, have added another layer to Formula 1’s rich history,” said McLaren team boss Zak Brown.

    “There is a time for everyone to make a change and Fernando has decided the end of this season to be his. We respect his decision, even if we believe he is in the finest form of his career. Our open dialogue with Fernando has meant we could plan for this eventuality.”

    While Alonso has struggled to take top results in F1 in recent years, he’s found success in other championships as he pursues the Triple Crown of motorsport.

    Last year, he made a one-off IndyCar appearance to compete in the Indy 500. Alonso looked set for a strong result before a mechanical problem ended his run.

    The McLaren driver has spent the 2018 season running in the World Endurance Championship alongside his F1 commitments. Competing with Toyota, he’s so far won both rounds in the WEC’s 2018/19 super-season, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

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Boullier Resigns From McLaren

ERIC BOULLIER RESIGNS FROM McLAREN

    McLaren Racing Director Eric Boullier has stepped down as the team restructures its racing operations.

    Boullier has faced mounting pressure as McLaren failed to meet expectations after switching from Honda to Renault power for the 2018 season.

    “I am very proud to have worked with such a brilliant team over the past four years, but I recognise now is the right time for me to step down,” he said in a statement on the team’s website.

    I want to wish everyone at McLaren the best for the remainder of the season and for the future.”

    McLaren’s poor performance has prompted a restructure of the team’s racing operations.

    Simon Roberts will now oversee production, engineering, and logistics. Fernando Alonso’s former race engineer, Andrea Stella, has been appointed Performance Director, and is responsible for trackside operations. And Indy 500 winner Gil de Ferran takes up the new Sporting Director role.

    “The performance of the MCL33 in 2018 has not met the expectations of anyone at McLaren, especially our loyal fans,” said McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown.

    “This is not the fault of the hundreds of committed and hard-working men and women at McLaren. The causes are systemic and structural, which required major change from within.

    With today’s announcement, we start to address those issues head on and take the first step on our road to recovery.

    I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the entire team to thank Eric for his service and contribution to McLaren, and wish him well in his future endeavours.”

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McLaren Reveal 2018 Car & Papaya Livery

(Image credit to: McLaren F1 Team)

    McLaren has revealed its first Renault powered Formula 1 car, the MCL33, complete with iconic papaya orange livery.

    The new car has been described as an evolution of its predecessor, but important changes needed to be made for the significantly different engine that would be powering the car.

    After three frustrating seasons with Honda, McLaren switched to Renault for the 2018 F1 season. Though regulations state the front and rear engine mounts must be the same for each manufacturer, the architecture of the Renault engine is different from that of the Honda.

    “Making the switch has a big impact on the installation of the engine,” said Tim Goss, McLaren’s chief technical officer (chassis). “The advantage of the Renault layout means that we can push the engine forwards, but then you have the compressor at the back of the engine, so you’ve got to get the outlet pipes forward without impacting the packaging.

    We had to redesign the back of the chassis, the gearbox bell-housing, the rear suspension and the cooling layout. That was two weeks of intense effort to get right. But it was something we were somewhat prepared for, because we knew it might happen, and it’s amazing what people can do in such a short space of time when the chips are down and you’ve got a really clear mission.”

    Having taken just 133 points from the past three seasons, McLaren hopes the change of engine manufacturer will lead to a change of fortune and enable drivers Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne to fight closer to the front of the field.

    But racing director Eric Boullier warns the team will still face a tough challenge.

    “We are under no illusions that it will be difficult to splinter the hegemony at the front, and that the midfield will be full of well-funded, experienced outfirts with plenty to prove.

    We are humble about the challenge ahead, but feel we’ve prepared well, have a solid package that we can build upon and exploit as the season progresses, and have two excellent drivers who will make the difference in races.”

    Whether the MCL33 will be a turning point for McLaren remains to be seen, but the car undoubtedly marks a new chapter in the team’s history. 

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Alonso Confirmed At McLaren For 2018

ALONSO CONFIRMED AT McLAREN FOR 2018

    Fernando Alonso has been confirmed at McLaren for the 2018 season after signing a new contract with the Woking-based team.

    McLaren will finally end their Honda engine partnership and switch over to Renault power next season in hopes of improving their overall performance and results in the sport.

    Alonso has dealt with many mechanical woes and endured over 100 Grid Penalties combined this year alone. Same can be said for his younger Belgian team-mate, Stoffel Vandoorne, who was confirmed at McLaren for the 2018 season as well, just a few months ago.

    Alonso's best result this season came at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he finished in 6th. His best result since joining McLaren is 5th, which he placed twice: The first time in the 2015 Hungarian Grand Prix and then again at the 2016 Monaco Grand Prix.

    The two-time F1 world Champion will also compete in the 2018 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, where he will race for United Autosports. He will drive alongside Phil Hanson and 17-year-old Lando Norris.

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