F1: Lando Norris reveals McLaren aims and 77,000 sign Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari petition

Norris and McLaren aim to take step forward

British teenager Lando Norris says progress is the main aim for McLaren next season after it was confirmed he would drive for the Formula 1 team.

Norris, 18, will join Carlos Sainz in McLaren’s all-new line-up in 2019 and he is looking forward to racing alongside the 24-year-old Spaniard.

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Speaking to the BBC about his and McLaren’s goals, Norris said: “I want to say I am better than the other drivers but I still have to prove that.

“As long as I do a good job and put all my effort into proving I am worth it, everything should be fine.

“I am just hoping whatever I do is going to be good enough. I want to be with McLaren and I want to win with McLaren. I don’t think that is going to be next year, so it is more of a longer project.

“Rule number one is: beat your team-mate. Apart from that, it is going to be a tough year.

“We are not going to be winning, or competing against Ferrari and Mercedes. I would like to think we can make a step forward from where we are.”

Buxton: Vandoorne deserves second chance

Lando Norris’ appointment as one of McLaren’s new drivers for 2019 has seen Stoffel Vandoorne lose his seat in F1.

Once tipped to be “McLaren’s next world champion”, the Belgian has struggled this season, winning only eight points.

F1 Digital presenter Will Buxton believes the 26-year-old Belgian has the talent to make an impact in the sport.

Writing on F1.com, Buxton said: “There is every chance that all he needs is a change of environment to allow that mighty talent that many recognise exists within him to break through. Few believe Vandoorne to be anything other than a phenomenally talented racer. Yet even fewer believe he’s lived up to expectations.

“Is he the great talent of a generation which so many of us believed him to be? Perhaps the greatest sadness of all is that, should he fail to find a way to continue his Formula 1 journey into 2019, we may never get to truly discover the answer. I’m hoping he does.”

77,000 sign Kimi petition

Last week it was predicted that Ferrari would announce Charles Leclerc as Kimi Raikkonen’s replacement for the 2019 season. But later no news has yet appeared and Raikkonen’s F1 future remains in the balance.

The Finnish driver certainly has many supporters who want to see him remain in F1. And one fan has set up a petition on Change.org urging Ferrari to keep the 38-year-old for one more year.

As of 3.30pm today the petition had secured more than 77,000 signatures.