McLaren could lend out Norris (2nd Update)

Lando Norris, has check will drive

UPDATE This rumor is downgraded to 'false' with today's announcement that Lando Norris will race alongside Carlos Sainz Jr. for McLaren in 2019.

06/18/18 Three rival Formula 1 teams made approaches for McLaren's rising star Lando Norris but all would have involved the Formula 2 championship leader cutting his ties with the Woking camp.

It emerged prior to the Canadian Grand Prix that Toro Rosso made an inquiry but that its approach was only on the basis that Norris would become a free agent if he joined the Red Bull junior team.

McLaren boss Zak Brown has made it clear that his team has no intention of letting the 2016 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner go after supporting Norris's progress through the junior ranks.

"We've been approached by more than one team," Brown told Autosport.

"We've had three approaches, of varying degrees. Some included this year, but we want him to focus on F2, and keep him at McLaren.

"If we felt it was good for his career, and good for McLaren, then we'd consider it on a case by case basis.

"But all of the approaches meant he would have gone away, and we're not interested in that conversation. That's non-negotiable.

"We're not going to train him up for someone else, but I don't think anyone else has any interest in training him up for us."

06/18/18 Zak Brown says he would loan Lando Norris to another formula one team for experience.

Recently, Formula 2 championship leader Norris – a McLaren junior driver – was linked with a mid-season move to Toro Rosso to replace struggling Brendon Hartley.

The rumor was played down, but McLaren executive Brown said that in theory, he would let Norris go.

"We would like him to get experience somewhere," he confirmed.

"Lando is a McLaren driver and we think he has a bright future here, but if an opportunity came elsewhere we would seriously consider it. But we have got no interest in letting Lando go anywhere long term," Brown added.

With both Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne's future up in the air for next season, the Woking-based outfit wants to keep its options open, including the possibility of promoting Norris to a full-time race seat with McLaren next year.

Chances of seeing Norris behind the wheel of a Toro Rosso this year appear remote, but Brown would however ponder a short-term offer for the F2 racer, if it helped the McLaren junior gain a head start on the future.

"If there was an opportunity for Lando to gain experience then that’s something we would consider," Brown responded when asked last weekend in Montreal if he would be interested in loaning Norris to Toro Rosso this season.

"Lando is a McLaren driver. He has a bright future here, but we do not have an interest in letting Lando go anywhere on a long-term deal."

Alonso's immediate attention will be focused on Le Mans this weekend. But longer term, an exit from Grand Prix racing at the end of the year would appear likely given McLaren's current under-performance.

"I don't know, 2019 is still a long way ahead," replied the Spaniard when asked by Sky Sports about his plans for the future.

"Normally, I try to take my decisions after the summer break and this year is no different.

"An important decision is coming for sure."