Norris hints at triple crown aspirations
McLaren Formula 1 test and reserve driver Lando Norris has stated his desire to explore different disciplines during his career, which could include a bid for motor racing’s triple crown.
Norris won the European Formula 3 championship in 2017 and will contest Formula 2 with Carlin this season, alongside duties as McLaren’s newly appointed test and reserve driver.
Seemingly destined to reach F1, Norris would need to combine victory at the Monaco Grand Prix along with winning the Indy 500 and Le Mans 24 Hours, in order to claim the unofficial triple crown.
Norris will have his first taste of endurance racing this weekend. Racing for United Autosports, he will compete alongside Alonso and regular sportscar driver Phil Hanson at the Daytona 24 Hours.
Despite the event being Norris’ first high profile race outside of single-seaters, he has already outlined that he would like to continue to explore other disciplines alongside future F1 duties.
“I am definitely one of the drivers who would want to do Daytona, Le Mans, Indy 500,” he stated. “I’m sure after the race in Daytona, it’s going to make me want to do more of this kind of stuff.”
For Alonso, his appearance at Daytona is being made with one eye towards his likely attempt at securing victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours. In 2017, he stated his own ambition to become only the second driver in history to achieve the triple crown.
Having already won the Monaco Grand Prix, Alonso missed the event last season as he instead made a debut appearance at the Indy 500.
“I know that it’s extremely tough and Fernando has been given more opportunities than the other drivers to go and do [other events],” Norris added.
“I’ll have to wait and see how strict it is in F1 on what they allow you to do. But, Zak’s quite a good guy who wants to do it as well, so hopefully he pushes for it in the future and I can be on-board to go and do those races.
“It might be difficult, but if I had an opportunity then I definitely would.”