Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has admitted that he views Lando Norris as a “big talent” in Formula 1, with the British driver continuing to be linked to a future switch to the Austrians.
There is no doubting that Norris is one of the strongest drivers on the grid currently, something he’s recently proven by claiming P2 in four of the last seven races.
His most recent podium came last weekend at the Japanese Grand Prix, where reigning World Champion Max Verstappen sealed Red Bull back-to-back Constructors’ Championships.
Many see Norris as the ideal replacement for Sergio Perez, who’s contracted to the Milton Keynes-based team until the end of 2024.
Want to work in Formula 1? Browse the latest F1 job vacancies
However, unless something extraordinary happens, Norris won’t be making the switch from McLaren to Red Bull in 2025, given that he’s already got a contract until the end of that season.
With that in mind, the 23-year-old won’t be able to join the outfit until 2026 at the earliest.
Whilst it can’t happen until 2026, it’s widely seen as a matter of when, rather than if he’ll switch to Red Bull at some point in his F1 career.
Both Norris and Verstappen have expressed their intent on one day being team-mates, something which is more likely to happen at Red Bull than McLaren, largely because the reigning World Champion has a deal until the end of 2028.
Norris has already spoken to Red Bull before, as recently as last season ahead of agreeing to a contract extension to keep him at McLaren.
Even Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko has admitted he can “imagine” Norris racing for the Austrian side, an opinion a substantial number of people share.
Norris is a driver that Horner is clearly a fan of and is someone he’s keen to “keep an eye on”, with the Red Bull boss noting that if none of the team’s drivers are ready to step into the main side, then they will look outside their “talent pool”.
“Lando’s a great driver. He’s a big talent, big personality and of course, he’s one of those drivers that you keep an eye on,” Horner told Sky Sports, when asked if he’s keeping an eye on Norris.
READ: Why Williams literally can’t afford to keep Logan Sargeant
“But there’s many drivers that you keep an eye on as well. There’s a generation of drivers out there at the moment that have got a huge amount of talent.
“Max is operating at such a level that his confidence, his commitment, his talent is absolute at the moment and it’s difficult to envisage somebody beating him in the same equipment.
“But there’s some great talent out there and of course what we want is the best two drivers we can possibly field.
“So ideally that will come from within the talent pool that we have, and if we don’t believe there’s that capability we will look outside of that as to who’s available.”