F1: Lando Norris issues warning to McLaren teammate Carlos Sainz

Norris: I aim to beat Sainz at every race

Even through Lando Norris is preparing for his debut season in Formula 1 McLaren’s new recruit is out to beat teammate Carlos Sainz.

British driver Norris, 19, and Sainz, 24, form a new-look McLaren line-up on the 2019 grid after the duo replaced Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne.

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Despite the experienced Spaniard Sainz having 81 career races under his belt, teenager Norris has some lofty ambitions for his rookie season in F1.

Quoted by the Daily Mail, Norris said: “My ideal aim is to beat Carlos at every race, and in every qualifying session. That is an unrealistic goal to set at the moment but I will do the best job I can and complete as much preparation as I can to be ready for it.

“There are also some circuits I haven’t been to before - Singapore, Montreal, Melbourne - and tracks like Monaco where it is not always easy to be super-quick in an F1 car straight away.

“But, of course, I would like to beat him, and that is my aim, and my goal.”

From four wheels to two

Meanwhile the BBC reports that the McLaren Group, which includes the F1 division, has signed a deal to become a 50% partner of the Bahrain Merida professional cycling team.

“Cycling is something we have been involved with in the past and have been looking at entering for some time,” said McLaren chief marketing officer John Allert. “Racing, technology and human performance are at the heart of everything we do at McLaren.”

Lewis can be unstoppable

ESPN’s F1 editors and columnists have been busy putting together their “way-too-early predictions” for the 2019 F1 season.

When asked the question “can anyone stop Lewis Hamilton winning the title?”, columnist Kate Walker responded: “Only Lewis Hamilton can. If he continues the run of form he’s shown this year, Lewis will be a driver at the peak of his powers and borderline unstoppable.”

Maurice Hamilton added: “Given the way Hamilton has been driving with such speed and supreme confidence this year, if Mercedes do even a half a decent job, it’s difficult to see anyone getting close.”