Over the course of the 2022 season, Lando Norris was the best of the rest driver in the championship and was also the only driver outside of Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes to stand on the podium.
The Brit has been heavily linked with a move to Red Bull in recent seasons but has repeatedly put his faith in McLaren, refusing to entertain transfer talk until his current contract expires.
McLaren are set to have a new state-of-the-art wind tunnel facility operational later this year, with the technological boost set to allow the team to challenge right at the top of the timing screens.
Team CEO Zak Brown has however admitted that this is a long-term project, with McLaren now expected to be able to compete for wins and championships for a couple more seasons.
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While Norris has seemingly agreed with this timeline, the 23-year-old will certainly be hoping to see positive progress within the next year as McLaren begin their journey back to the top.
McLaren have however started the 2023 season horrifically with a double DNF in Bahrain while the MCL60 does not look capable of currently challenging for large point hauls.
Sky Sports pundit Karun Chandhok has suggested that Norris should look to take his talent elsewhere following McLaren’s poor start to the season, with both Red Bull and Ferrari being linked.
“I tell you who will be thinking about a move to Ferrari or Red Bull though, is young Lando Norris,” he said.
“Looking at where they’re [McLaren] at, and we were talking before the season of McLaren and locking him in and Zak [Brown] doing an amazing job of contracting him in for that four year period.
“I do wonder, and if they’re smart they would have created some sort of exit clauses.
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“For example, McLaren don’t finish in the top four of the constructors’ championship two years in a row, is there an option for Lando to look elsewhere.”
Norris has been linked to Red Bull to replace Sergio Perez when the Mexican’s contract expires at the end of next season.
If McLaren’s form does not drastically improve this season, it has been rumoured that Ferrari or Red Bull could try to poach the 23-year-old from McLaren early however.