McLaren junior Lando Norris clinches Euro F3 title

McLaren junior driver Lando Norris has secured the FIA European Formula 3 title in his rookie campaign after finishing second to Joel Eriksson in the opening race of the final round at Hockenheim.

After being cruelly denied the title in race three of the penultimate round at the Red Bull Ring last month after crashing out on the last lap, Norris has grabbed the Euro F3 crown in emphatic fashion with second place in the Hockenheim opener.

Norris, who only needed one point in the final round regardless of his rivals’ results, has followed in the footsteps of current F1 drivers Esteban Ocon and Lance Stroll by clinching the Euro F3 title since the series' reshaping in 2012.

Norris has continued his rapid rise through the ranks having won the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, Formula Renault 2.0 NEC and Toyota Racing Series titles in 2016 to add to his MSA Formula title from 2015. The 17-year-old made his F1 testing debut for McLaren in Hungary earlier this year and is rumoured to be in line to take the reserve and third driver title at the Woking-based team for 2018 alongside a move up to Formula 2.

“It’s been a fantastically successful year and a season in which it hopefully takes me closer to realising my [Formula One] dream,” Norris said. “Carlin gave me a fast, competitive car from the opening event at Silverstone and my thanks go to Trevor [Carlin] and his amazing crew.

"I’m loving my role as a McLaren Young Driver, spending time in the simulator at the McLaren Technology Centre and attending some Grands Prix with the team. Winning this [F3] title can only help me become a F1 driver.”