Rising star Lando Norris says he expects to move into Formula 2 or possibly the Japanese Super Formula in 2018.

The 17-year-old is currently competing in the European Formula 3 Championship. He’s in second place behind German’s Maximilian Günther with four weekends remaining.

But whether he succeeds in winning the title or not, Norris expects to move on to a brand new challenge next season.

“I’m not 100 per cent, but I am pretty sure I won’t be doing F3 next year,” he said. “I don’t think it’s going to be Formula 1 next year. I think it’s more likely to be Formula 2 or Super Formula.”

Norris had his first proper taste of Formula 1 last week. He took the wheel of the MCL32 for the second day of testing at the Hungaroring.

Norris said that it went “slightly better than I expected it would go,” having lapped faster on ultrasofts than Stoffel Vandoorne.

McLaren sporting director Eric Boullier said Norris had “impressed us all with his maturity, professionalism and speed.” He added that the youngster was “a potential star of the future.”

• With Norris, McLaren may have a ‘superstar’ on its hands

But Norris expects McLaren to retain its current driver-line-up of Vandoorne and Fernando Alonso next season. That would mean no vacancy for him in Woking next season.

“I don’t think the test changes anything for this season. Nothing is planned,” he said. “McLaren is trying to keep Fernando and Stoffel. It’s not really up to me.”

The Bristol-born driver won three titles in 2016 – the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, Formula Renault 2.0 NEC and the Toyota Racing Series.

He got his McLaren test chance after receiving the 2016 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, along with a McLaren simulator role.

Heading to Formula 2 (previously GP2) or Super Formula would be in line with the path that took Vandoorne into Formula 1 with the team.

Formula 2 drivers Nyck de Vries and Nobuharu Matsushita are also part of the current McLaren young driver programme alongside Lando Norris.

 
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