Lando Norris

[slipstream 1985]

Some Gump said:

He's had some very good performances, and is head and shoukders winning the PR battle.

McLaren have needed better PR ever since they lost vodafone. If there is even a chance hst Norris can open sponsorship doors they'd be daft not to have a punt.

Yeah vodafone took the money and their landline connection.

[Some Gump]

REALIST123 said:

Do you mean his dad can open sponsorship doors?

No i mean he is very active on social media and always is very likeable.

Historic f1 simply isn't attracting the sponsors. The demographic is us middle age sprreaders and beyond.

For f1/ to stay popular, they have to ensnare the young. I think norris can do that.

[andrewcliffe]

Norris seems to be a likeable chap, and hasn't yet reached prima donna status. I'm sure a season in the 2019 McLaren will help keep his feet on the ground, unlike the last time McLaren gambled on a rookie, when they had a good car.

[37chevy]

andrewcliffe said:

Norris seems to be a likeable chap, and hasn't yet reached prima donna status. I'm sure a season in the 2019 McLaren will help keep his feet on the ground, unlike the last time McLaren gambled on a rookie, when they had a good car.

I like Lando...but hes been pretty sheltered from media attention into his wealthy background etc...don't worry, il give it a year and he will have his character assassinated all over the media.

wish the lad all the best, hopefully he does well

[Vaud]

andrewcliffe said:

Norris seems to be a likeable chap, and hasn't yet reached prima donna status. I'm sure a season in the 2019 McLaren will help keep his feet on the ground, unlike the last time McLaren gambled on a rookie, when they had a good car.

Arguably they gambled on Vandoorne?. Sainz is their anchor for next year?

[Some Gump]

37chevy said:

I like Lando...but hes been pretty sheltered from media attention into his wealthy background etc...don't worry, il give it a year and he will have his character assassinated all over the media.

wish the lad all the best, hopefully he does well

Funny, isn't it? Every single f1 candidate is from a wealthy background, yet sometimes the media arbitrarily pick on 1 or 2 drivers to chastise.

[DanielSan]

There are a couple of drivers who were born without the silver spoon, Ocon is one of them.

[Dakkon]

37chevy said:

andrewcliffe said:

Norris seems to be a likeable chap, and hasn't yet reached prima donna status. I'm sure a season in the 2019 McLaren will help keep his feet on the ground, unlike the last time McLaren gambled on a rookie, when they had a good car.

I like Lando...but hes been pretty sheltered from media attention into his wealthy background etc...don't worry, il give it a year and he will have his character assassinated all over the media.

wish the lad all the best, hopefully he does well

Don't worry, in a years time all the PH armchair critic / keyboard warriors will be able to argue that they could have done much better

[Condi]

DanielSan said:

There are a couple of drivers who were born without the silver spoon, Ocon is one of them.

Not many at all. The costs, even at karting level, put the sport out of reach of the vast majority of the population.

[37chevy]

Some Gump said:

Funny, isn't it? Every single f1 candidate is from a wealthy background, yet sometimes the media arbitrarily pick on 1 or 2 drivers to chastise.

yup, to be fair the british media are great at doing this. button was annihilated in his early career with Benetton, Lewis likewise, problem is where button tended to keep his private life, just that, Hamilton is much more open, which gives fans a great insight to his life, but also more ammunition for the media

[Vaud]

Some Gump said:

Funny, isn't it? Every single f1 candidate is from a wealthy background, yet sometimes the media arbitrarily pick on 1 or 2 drivers to chastise.

Interestingly Vettel, and Alonso also came from quite modest families, certainly not rich.

[anonymous-user]

I really hope McLaren can get their act together but I can only see the result getting even worse in 2019.

Sainz has been a disappointment at Renault and has not been on the same level as his teammate.

Hopefully, Lando is the real deal but if the car is rubbish again then it could be another Vandoorne situation.

[andrewcliffe]

Vaud said:

Arguably they gambled on Vandoorne?. Sainz is their anchor for next year?

A lot more preparation though, Formula Renault 3.5, two years in GP2 and a year in Super Formula. Feel sorry for Vandoorne - huge potential but in a car that is flawed, and a team mate who gets more than he should out of it.

[37chevy]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

I really hope McLaren can get their act together but I can only see the result getting even worse in 2019.

Sainz has been a disappointment at Renault and has not been on the same level as his teammate.

Hopefully, Lando is the real deal but if the car is rubbish again then it could be another Vandoorne situation.

All Lando has got to do is beat his teammate...it’s all Vandoorne had to do, and it’s all Hamilton did in his first year at Mclaren.

[anonymous-user]

37chevy said:

All Lando has got to do is beat his teammate...it’s all Vandoorne had to do, and it’s all Hamilton did in his first year at Mclaren.

Hamilton and 2007.

You just can't help yourself.

What about Button vs Hamilton 2011?

The excuse for that one is???

[anonymous-user]

Vaud said:

Interestingly Vettel, and Alonso also came from quite modest families, certainly not rich.

Alas, the talent in the future might just come down to money.

We might have to get used to more Strolls in the paddock.

[Leroy902]

Sad the only reason he'll get a seat in an F1 car is because of family wealth.

But unlike the odd driver, Lewis being on the top of that list who was able to make his way through by just pure raw talent.

Hopefully a genuine talent can make it through again, not just daddy's money.

[JonChalk]

Dr Murdoch said:

corozin said:

and presumably McLaren have enough data to convince themselves he has the minerals.

and presumably Red Bull have enough data to convince themselves he doesn't have the minerals?

Not true - Toro Rosso tried to get him released from McLaren into their car midway through this year!

Red Bull / Toro Rosso are notorious for only promoting from within their driver development programme, so try and get someone from outside it, shows a) they respect Norris, and b) they have a gap in their programme (Ticktum is "next in line", but unlikely to get enough superlicense points until 2020).

[37chevy]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Hamilton and 2007.

You just can't help yourself.

What about Button vs Hamilton 2011?

The excuse for that one is???

No excuse. You miss my point which is, as a rookie it’s possible to beat your champion teammate. Vandoorne had his chance and hasn’t stepped up. It doesn’t matter what car you have, the other guy on the other side of the garage has the same equipment.

All Lando can do next season is beat Carlos and prove that he’s the real deal

[37chevy]

Leroy902 said:

Sad the only reason he'll get a seat in an F1 car is because of family wealth.

But unlike the odd driver, Lewis being on the top of that list who was able to make his way through by just pure raw talent.

Hopefully a genuine talent can make it through again, not just daddy's money.

Ok slight reality check here. Yes Hamilton’s dad wasn’t wealthy, but don’t fool yourself, he was still doing alright for himself. Add up what it costs to race in karts, formula Renault, formula 3, gp2 and Hamilton probably needed around £500k-£1million to get to f1