Former Formula 1 champion Damon Hill has raised the possibility of Daniel Ricciardo or Lando Norris replacing Sergio Perez at Red Bull, as the Mexican driver’s contract is set to expire at the end of the upcoming season.
However, Hill questioned whether Ricciardo would be ready to make a comeback and highlighted Norris as a potential alternative.
Despite impressing since his entry into Formula 1, Norris has been held back by McLaren’s lack of pace, preventing him from reaching the top of the field.
Acquiring Norris would send shockwaves through the F1 world due to his substantial contract with McLaren.
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The young British talent is committed to the British manufacturer until 2025, which would require Red Bull to negotiate a settlement with McLaren team principal Zak Brown to secure his services.
Norris is widely regarded as one of F1’s brightest prospects and is expected to be a formidable competitor alongside Max Verstappen.
The potential move could ignite intra-team rivalries reminiscent of the heated clashes between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in 2016.
Hill shared his thoughts on the matter with The Independent, saying, “Is Daniel Ricciardo fit enough to come back?
“That’s what the noises are.
“Maybe that plan is simmering away. I think they’d want a fresh face.
“Possibly Lando [Norris].
“He’s still got a few more years left at McLaren – I was surprised when he signed such a long-term deal [until the end of 2025].
“It’s a long time, I’d have done three years tops.
“If you’re that confident in yourself, you need to be able to move when the time is right.”
Hill’s remarks echo those made by Sky Sports pundit Karun Chandhok a few months earlier, who also suggested the possibility of Norris moving to Red Bull.
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Chandhok speculated on the situation, stating on the Sky Sports F1 podcast, “I tell you who will be thinking about a move to Ferrari or Red Bull though, is young Lando Norris.
“Looking at where they’re at, and we were talking before the season of McLaren locking him in and Zak [Brown] doing an amazing job of contracting him for that four-year period.
“I do wonder, and if they’re smart they would have created some sort of exit clauses.”