If Leclerc is leading the hype train, then Lando Norris is in the carriage just behind. The McLaren youngster has won four championships in the last three seasons, with his dominant march to the title in ꦯthe highly-competitive FIA European Formula 3 championship in 2017 being a sign that the hype and ‘next Lewis Hamilton’ tag is juꦡstified.

Norris is nearing the top of the junior formulae mountain, with a move to Formula 2 for 2018 with Carlin giving hi𓂃m the chance to final𝔍ly reach the summit. Carlin will be returning to the series after one year out, but with an all-new car to play with, it should not be too great a deficit.

Norris will enter the series as the favourite for the title. How he copes under the spotlight of the F1 paddock will be of particular intrigue, but if past form is anything to go☂ b🐻y, he should flourish.

Outside of F2, Norris will be on standby for McLaren to step in should Fer♛nando Alonso or Stoffel Vandoorne be unavailable for a grand prix weekend, and is adamant he is ready to snap up the opportunity if requ﷽ired.

But he focus for Norris will be making a splash in F2 an🦩d to follow Leclerc’s lead by making it a one-year stint in the series 𒅌before exiting as champion.