should I just format the Windows partition whilst installing a distro and delete the one on the storage drive?
That's what I did when I switched over. When I finally made the decision to Linux fulltime, I simply got rid of Windows. Having it around was a crutch I hadn't realized was making the transition more difficult. It forced me to find Linux-specific solutions to anything I needed.
Even after years of distro-hopping, it wasn't until I got rid of the backup OS (Windows) that I really became a Linux user. Everything just clicked after that. I began to appreciate aspects of Linux that I hadn't before, the philosophy that drives the system, the workflow and lots more.
I was also surprised to find the amount and variety of software available for it - GUI and Terminal. When you're working on only a single system, you make a far greater effort to find the resources, repos and even little-known alternatives to big-name linux-apps. It's still a fun ride of discovery for me:)
You're in a great position in that you've already chosen a distro.