05/09/2018
NEWS STORY
At a time comparisons are being made between Lando Norris and another McLaren protege that went on to achieve F1 greatness, while Lewis Hamilton was part of the McLaren young driver programme from the age of 13 - three year's after that infamous first meeting with Ron Dennis - Norris wasn't enrolled until February 2017 when he was 17.
One of those guiding the youngster's career over the years is Zak Brown, who was announced as executive director of the McLaren Technology Group in November 2016.
Speaking to reporters at the McLaren Technology Centre yesterday, Brown denied claims that he had a conflict of interest in recruiting Norris as teammate to Carlos Sainz.
"I've been looking after Lando before I started at McLaren and before he came to McLaren," said the American.
"It's been very transparent from day one with the shareholders, and what we do, and I think I'm not the first person to have that type of relationship in the sport or in business.
"I'm not conflicted in any sort of negotiation and so it's quite relaxed around here. He's here on his merit and if he wasn't here he'd be in another team."