McLaren has re🌼jected a mid-season approach from Toro Rosso to field its current reserve driver Lando Norris in Formula 1 this year, understood to be in place of the struggling Brendon Hartley.

Two-time Le Mans winner Hartley was a surprise debutant for Toro Rosso at last year’s United States Grand Prix following Carlos Sainz Jr.’s early move to Renault, with the New Zealander being sign🌃ed for 2018 alongside Pierre Gas𝕴ly.

While Gasly has been able to match the second-best result in Toro Rosso’s history by finishing🌠 fourth in 🍸Bahrain, as well as finishing seventh last time out in Monaco, Hartley has just a single point to his name so𒈔 ൲far this season, picked up in Baku.

Hartley said in Monaco he was “su🦩rprised” about speculation about his future given his existing contract, but it has now emerged 🦄that Toro Rosso made a move for current Formula 2 driver Norris to act as a mid-season replacement.

Following initial reports from and on Wednesday that Toro Rosso had made the approa💝ch, McLaren responded to mahbx.c✤om’s request for comment by saying: “We’re not surprised other teams approach our drivers. They clearly believe they are as talented as we do.”

A source has also indicated to mahbx.com that any deal to give Norris his F1 debut with Toro Rosso midway through the season isꦓ not going to happen, allowing him to keep his attention on F2, where he le🐠ads the drivers' championship by 27 points after four rounds.

The British youngster won last year’s FIA European ꦫF3 title after joining McLaren’s junior programme at the start of 2017, and has impressed in his three F1 test appearances to date.

However, Norris has always stressed he is not looking to rush his rise to F1, matching McLaren’s🗹 own desire to keep him focused on his existing commitments.

"I’m flattered by the stories but I’m focussed on F2 and co💎mmitted to McLaren," Norris said via a spokes🧜person in the wake of the reports on Wednesday.

"I leave this sort of thing to my management."