Red Bull’s Marko flirts with Norris: “…has to come to us”. Formula 1 teams are always on the lookout for top talent, constantly scouting for drivers who can bring speed, precision, and a competitive edge to their lineup. Red Bull Racing is facing a critical juncture as 2025 approaches. Their current driver, Sergio Perez, is nearing the end of his contract.
The Austrian powerhouse, known for its aggressive strategies and dominant performances, is openly considering its options and casting a keen eye on the talent pool within the sport. Among the potential candidates is Lando Norris, a name that has recently been linked with Red Bull through various channels, highlighting the team’s interest in nurturing future prospects.
Lando Norris, currently with McLaren, has shown commendable skill and consistency in Formula 1, despite not yet clinching a Grand Prix victory. Now in his sixth year, Norris has faced formidable opponents like Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, whose exceptional performances have often overshadowed others.
The relationship between Red Bull and Norris took a playful yet promising turn post-Chinese Grand Prix, as Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s advisor, engaged in light-hearted yet pointed dialogue about Norris’s prospects.
Marko’s comments on television hinted at a strategic interest in Norris, suggesting that a move to Red Bull could expedite his quest for a Grand Prix win. Such statements not only stir speculation but also indicate the dynamic nature of team strategies in F1, where the movement of drivers can pivot the competitive balance.
Why Lando Norris is considered Red Bull material
His first Formula One podium came at the 2020 season opener in Austria where the British driver was paired with team mate Carlos Sainz Jr. The youngster finished third, making him the third youngest driver ever to stand on a Formula 1 podium. Throughout the season, Norris’ performances were characterised by maturity and consistency, crucial qualities in a sport as competitive as Formula One.
He finished the year in 9th place in the Drivers’ Championship and was instrumental in McLaren’s solid Constructors’ Championship performance as the team from Woking struggled on trying to return to the sharp end of the field.
By 2021, Norris had firmly established himself as a key player within the team, now partnered with Daniel Ricciardo following Sainz’s move to Ferrari. That year, Norris continued to grow, consistently running at the front of the grid. He scored several podium finishes, including a near-victory in Russia, where he led much of the race in wet conditions before a late rain shower and a strategic error saw him finish seventh.
Nevertheless, his performance throughout the season was strong enough to secure him a commendable sixth place in the championship standings.
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McLaren struggles but Norris keeps scoring podiums
The 2022 and 2023 seasons underlined Norris’ ability and resilience, despite McLaren’s inconsistent performance compared to other midfield teams. Norris often outperformed the car’s perceived capabilities, demonstrating his ability to maximise results and maintain high morale within the team. In 2023, despite not yet winning a race, Norris finished runner-up six times, demonstrating both speed and strategic acumen, particularly in races dominated by drivers such as Max Verstappen.
From 2024 onwards, Norris’ reputation continues to grow. His consistent high finishes, and especially his ability to challenge the likes of Verstappen and Hamilton, signal his readiness for success at the top level.
Away from the track, Norris is known for his engaging personality and active social media presence, which endears him to fans and adds to his marketability as a driver.
Red Bull consultant with open words: “[Lando] has to come to us”
Red Bull Racing is currently looking for a suitable candidate for 2025 because Sergio Perez’s contract expires at the end of the year. While Perez himself has hopes of an extension, numerous other candidates are also being traded by the Austrian Formula 1 racing team.
McLaren driver Lando Norris is another driver who has received warm words from the Red Bulls within a few days after the Chinese GP last weekend.
Lando Norris has not yet been able to record a Grand Prix victory in what is now his sixth year. The competition from Mercedes with Lewis Hamilton was initially too dominant, and for years Max Verstappen has been driving away from everyone in the Red Bull.
This meant that Norris was often highly praised with his six second places, five of them behind Verstappen. Despite this, he was still unable to celebrate a triumph.
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Marko flirts about Norris
This series will continue in 2024. At the weekend in China, Norris once again only landed on the second highest step of the podium and had to give way to Verstappen. This prompted Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko to continue flirting with the sought-after Norris.
“His father always jokes that Lando won’t celebrate his first Grand Prix victory until Max (Verstappen/Editor’s note) retires,” Marko revealed to “ServusTV” and added: “I told him that he has to come to us, then it will definitely be quicker.”
Marko’s words are no joke. He also admitted: “Norris is young and certainly in our focus.”
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Piastri noticed by Red Bull
It wasn’t the first time last week that the Red Bull consultant sent warm words to Norris – and also to his colleague Oscar Piastri, who is also impressive in the McLaren.
The McLaren duo are definitely interesting in the future for Red Bull as Marko recently praised the duo highly in the Kleine Zeitung.
“Norris at least has a contract until 2026, so he is not an option in the short term, nor is Oscar Piastri. “But both drivers are certainly interesting for us in the future,” the 80-year-old asserted.
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The result was the cars were 3-4 seconds a lap slower than when last here in 2019 but the reduced grip didn’t see tyre wear go to silly proportions. The newly confirmed contract extension for Fernando Alonso played out well for him and Aston Martin, as the Spanish maestro hauled his car into…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
