McLaren might have a fight on their hands to retain the services of Lando Norris come the new engine regulations in 2026, with ex-F1 driver Karun Chandhok insisting that Red Bull should do all they can to “try and buy” the incredibly talented 23-year-old.
2022 was a disappointing season for McLaren, as the side slipped to fifth in the Constructors’ Championship.
The Woking-based side ultimately didn’t develop the best of packages for the new aerodynamic regulations, as they regularly found themselves behind Alpine.
It was incredibly disappointing for the team and for Norris to have slipped to fifth, considering they spent the vast majority of 2021 fighting for podiums and occasionally victory.
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In 2021, Norris claimed four podium finishes and 10 top-five finishes. In 2022, he claimed one podium and just three top fives.
Incredibly, Norris’ podium at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was the only time in the entire season when a midfield driver claimed a podium, suggesting that the gap between the frontrunners and the midfield grew in 2022.
With this in mind, McLaren might struggle to retain Norris beyond his current contract, which is set to expire at the end of 2025.
Whilst Norris has revealed that he does have “faith” in his current side, he will perhaps be sceptical over remaining with the team in the future.
Norris has the talent to win races and potentially championships, with Red Bull having previously attempted to sign the Brit on multiple occasions.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner has admitted that the Austrians spoke to Norris before he signed his long-term deal with McLaren, suggesting that the Constructors’ Champions see the young Brit as one of the best in the field.
Should Red Bull sign Norris in the next few years, then he could perhaps lead them into the future, given that Max Verstappen has expressed that he might retire from the sport once his current deal ends in 2028.
Sergio Pérez too will be 34 years old when his deal expires at the end of 2024, with there being no guarantee that he’ll be with the team for the entirety of the next two years.
Red Bull have a track record of dropping drivers’ mid-contract, something which some predict could happen with Checo, should himself and Verstappen continue to have issues.
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The pair supposedly swept their differences under the carpet; however, the truth will only be seen once they are on-track against one another.
With the future of Red Bull in mind, Chandhok wants Red Bull to sign Norris, something which will come at a hefty price, presumably.
“I think they should be going hard to try and buy Lando Norris,” Chandhok told Sky Sports F1, during their season review show.