British teenager Lando Norris has been approached by Red Bull’s junior team Toro Rosso to race for them for the remainder of the Formula One season.

Norris is the reserve driver for McLaren this year, but Toro Rosso made a formal move to sign the 18-year-old on loan as a replacement for the under-performing New Zealander Brendon Hartley.

It is reported that Toro Rosso wanted to make Norris Britain’s youngest ever F1 debutant in Austria next month – just seven days before his home race at Silverstone – but McLaren are believed to have rejected their proposal.

Toro Rosso were keen for the temporary deal to be extended into next season, but McLaren’s plans beyond this year remain undetermined and the British team could yet choose to promote Norris to one of their race seats in 2019.