Lando Norris looks set to be fit to compete in this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix following his pre-event illness, meaning potential McLaren substitute Nyck de Vries can stand down.
Though the McLaren Formula 1 team said when announcing Norris’s absence from Thursday media duties that he was expected to be well enough to get in the car from Friday practice, it felt it worth taking the precaution of giving De Vries a seat-fitting on Thursday evening.
De Vries was available to McLaren in his position as reserve for its engine supplier Mercedes.
That role has already led to him driving for Mercedes, Aston Martin and Williams in Friday practice sessions, and then making an impromptu grand prix racing debut with Williams in Italy when Alex Albon was sidelined with appenditicitis.
De Vries’ impressive drive into the points at Monza then played a part in AlphaTauri signing him for the 2023 season.
He was seen in full McLaren kit in the team’s garage at Interlagos on Thursday night as the team made preparations just in case it had to call on him.
But the team has now confirmed that Norris has recovered sufficiently and will be at the track for Friday practice.
You can't get rid of me that easy pic.twitter.com/fT8H4Y0PHh
— Lando Norris (@LandoNorris) November 11, 2022
