McLaren protege Lando Norris to make F2 debut in Abu Dhabi
McLaren Formula 1 junior driver Lando Norris will make his Formula 2 debut at the season-ending Abu Dhabi round for the Campos Racing squad
Norris, the 2017 Formula 3 European champion, is using the final event of the F2 season to gain experience in ahead of a likely campaign in the F1 support series in 2018.
The Briton, who turns 18 on Monday, is racing in F3's Macau Grand Prix next weekend, although he will miss the first practice session on Thursday as a result of a Pirelli tyre test that he will conduct for McLaren at Interlagos on Tuesday.
"Having won the FIA Formula 3 European Championship at my first attempt this year, I will either step up to Formula 2 or Super Formula in 2018 towards my goal of one day racing in Formula 1," said Norris.
"To get the opportunity to contest the last two races of this year's F2 season is therefore a bonus whichever category I ultimately chose.
"It'll be the first time I've ever competed in a race that includes a compulsory pit-stop and so this will also be a new experience for me."
Norris is aiming to win Macau at the second attempt with the Carlin squad, to cap a championship-winning rookie year in Euro F3 that featured nine wins and eight poles.
"I'll be signing off from F3 this weekend and having won the Euro F3 title at my first attempt this year, it would be great to go back to Macau and win - it would be an awesome end to what's already been an amazing year," he said.
"But it'll be tough as in addition to the high-class field and the nature of the uncompromising track, I'm missing practice which isn't ideal but Macau is a race I really want to go back and do with the Carlin guys - even with that disadvantage."
Campos recently split with Ralph Boschung, who had completed the first 10 rounds of the 2017 season for the Spanish squad.
Japanese Formula 3 and Formula V8 3.5 race winner Alex Palou will drive the other Campos car at the Yas Marina circuit.
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