After the weak start to the new Formula 1 year, alarm bells are already ringing at McLaren. And their tone could be even more strident in the future, as Lando Norris, the British racing team’s top driver, has now been linked by a former F1 driver with a move to Ferrari or Red Bull.
The good news for McLaren: The contract with Lando Norris is still dated until the end of 2025. In other words: In the best-case scenario, the team from Woking can continue to build on the Brit’s convincing abilities for almost another three years.
The bad news: last year, the racing team only came in a disappointing fifth place in the constructors’ ranking – not enough for the ambitious Norris, who would like to fight for the title. There is a lot to suggest this season that McLaren could slip even further. But what happens when Norris’s frustration with the sporting misery increases?
In any case, former Formula 1 driver Karun Chandhok has a grim suspicion. “I’ll tell you who is thinking hard about a move to Ferrari or Red Bull right now: young Lando Norris,” Chandhok told Sky Sports’ F1 podcast participants.
McLaren’s team CEO Zak Brown did a “remarkable job” in letting Norris sign a multi-year contract including the 2025 season in early 2022, Chandhok said.
Formula 1: Does Norris have an exit clause?
“I’m just wondering, were they (Norris’ manager, ed.) smart enough and installed some kind of exit clause?” the Indian ex-F1 driver speculated, “for example, if McLaren failed twice in a row ends up in the top four that Norris is allowed to leave?”
After all, alongside Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), he was “one of the two top drivers who don’t drive for the three traditionally strong teams,” by which Chandhok meant Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes.
“The fact that Norris is currently having to fight to even reach the last qualifying segment is definitely frustrating for him,” analyzed the 39-year-old.
At the season opener in Bahrain, Norris only ended up in 17th place, which was equivalent to last place, after several defects and a total of six pit stops. His new teammate Oscar Piastri had to shut down the MCL60 prematurely because the gearbox went on strike and changing the steering wheel failed.