For the past few weeks, Lando Norris has been suspected to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull. This news comes after the fact that Sergio Perez has not been able to keep up with Max Verstappen’s performance in the last few races this season. Now Lando has given us an indication that he may not be as loyal to McLaren as everyone thinks.
“I owe McLaren a lot,” Norris said “but I don’t owe them my life. Obviously, there’s always been things going on and there’s been chats in the past and things like that, any time a contract comes to an end.”
There is no doubt that Lando Norris and McLaren are happy with each other. The British driver joined McLaren as a rookie in 2019 and has been with the team since then. With the team, he has grown into a leadership position amongst the team. While McLaren recruited Daniel Ricciardo in 2021, hoping that he would add to the value and become the lead driver, Lando has given the team much better results. Now, the team consists of himself and his rookie teammate, Oscar Piastri.
🗣️ | Lando Norris: “I owe #McLaren a lot, but I don’t owe them my life. Obviously there’s always been things going on and there’s been chats in the past and things like that, any time a contract comes to an end.”
[via: @racefansdotnet] #F1 #McLaren #LN4 #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/zYVcqzubGN
— McLaren F1 News 🏴🇦🇺 (@TheMcLarenZone) September 7, 2023
Lando Norris reportedly has spoken to Red Bull driver Max Verstappen about potentially teaming up in the future. This would be a formidable combination of drivers. However, can Lando Norris beat Max Verstappen in the Red Bull?
Max Verstappen has driven for Red Bull since 2016. Over the years, he has gotten adjusted to the car and has understood the car better than any other driver. This is one of the main reasons why his teammates always have some trouble getting adjusted to the car when compared to Max. However, Lando is considered to be a future Champion and could challenge Max Verstappen for the Championship.
When does Lando Norris’ McLaren F1 contract end?
Lando Norris signed a new contract with McLaren in 2022. The contract period was for a total of 4 years. This means that his contract is valid until the end of the 2025 season. Sergio Perez’s contract on the other hand will come to an end after the 2024 season.
A contract agreement can be broken by a driver by paying a penalty. This penalty usually matches the salary they would be getting that year. If the driver is wanted by another team, they would usually pay this amount.
🚨 Marko says Lando Norris would fit very well at Red Bull
“But in terms of youth and speed, he would be a good fit.”
“Sergio, on the other hand, is already over 30 and is going to have his fourth child. He already has other interests, so we’ll have to see what happens next.”… pic.twitter.com/7Dl9nckv1I
— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) September 5, 2023
If Red Bull wants to sign Norris after the 2024 season, they will either have to buy him out of the contract or make a driver swap deal with McLaren. A driver swap deal could be more feasible for Red Bull as they will not have to pay too much to get him. If Red Bull were to buy Norris out of the contract, they would have to pay McLaren somewhere around $20 million. This is unless McLaren and Red Bull agree on a different deal.
Will Lando Norris leave McLaren and go to Red Bull? Post your answers in the comment section below.