Max Verstappen has openly acknowledged that he and Lando Norris engaged in private discussions regarding the intriguing possibility of becoming teammates at Red Bull Racing.
This revelation comes in the wake of reports that the Red Bull team has been closely eyeing the young British driver, Norris, as a potential replacement for Sergio Perez, further intensifying speculations about a forthcoming team reconfiguration.
At the youthful age of 23, Norris has undeniably emerged as one of the standout performers of the current Formula 1 season, having impressively secured two podium finishes for McLaren.
His remarkable achievements have solidified his reputation as one of the sport’s most formidable and promising talents.
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As uncertainty looms over Perez’s future with Red Bull beyond 2024, Norris’s name has become a recurrent topic of conversation in discussions surrounding potential long-term replacements.
Alongside Norris, names like Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda, and Liam Lawson have also been tossed into the mix as contenders for a coveted seat at the illustrious racing team.
During an interview with Sky Sports Italy, Verstappen shared insights into his conversations with Norris, stating, “We talk about it.
“But he’s contracted to McLaren for a long time.
“We’ll see what happens in the future.”
Verstappen and Norris are close friends outside of Formula 1, often spending time together during breaks between race weekends.
Despite the persistent rumours circulating around Red Bull’s potential interest in Norris, the Bristol-native driver appears to remain content and fulfilled within the McLaren environment.
In a previous interview with Sky Sports F1 earlier this season, Norris articulated his aspirations, stating, “I want to win races with McLaren.
“I want to win in papaya, I want to win championships.
“I want to achieve my success and I want to achieve my goals with McLaren.
“That’s been my target since I’ve come here, since I’ve entered Formula 1 with this team.”
The prospect of a Norris-Red Bull partnership raises numerous complexities.
Presently, Norris is under contract until the conclusion of the 2025 season, with no known exit clauses in his agreement.
Consequently, any move to Red Bull would necessitate the team to buy out Norris’s contract, a challenge made more formidable by McLaren’s ambitious stance under the leadership of Zak Brown.
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Helmut Marko, a key advisor at Red Bull Racing, has shared his perspective on the potential transition.
He expressed, “That would certainly be ideal for the audience, television and journalists, but not for team leadership and success, we as a team want to win the World Championship.
“It’s better if you have a certain hierarchy where it’s clear who is – I don’t want to say number 1 driver, but who is clearly faster.”