Red Bull’s Helmut Marko is brazenly inviting McLaren’s Lando Norris to sign for his team, despite his long-term contract with McLaren.
Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko has unabashedly expressed interest in McLaren driver Lando Norris, hinting at a possible seat at the team. Despite Norris’ existing contract with McLaren until 2026, Marko’s comments have fuelled speculation about his long F1 career, while also taking it with a pinch of salt.
The Milton Keynes-based team’s representative piqued our interest after brazenly inviting McLaren’s Lando Norris to sign for Red Bull Racing, with the aim of bolstering their line-up and giving the British driver the victory he longed for in his career. Marko’s comments come amid Norris’ impressive performance at the Chinese Grand Prix, where driver Papaya claimed a commendable second, cementing his prestige as a rising star in the sport.
“He’s young and he’s actually in the center of our minds,” Marko told Servus TV, acknowledging the potential Norris has consistently shown over his last few seasons. The former driver didn’t hesitate to joke about Norris’ chance to make a fortune faster. under the Red Bull flag. ” His father jokes that Lando probably wouldn’t get his first Grand Prix win until Max [Verstappen] retires. I told him to come with us, so it would definitely happen faster,” Marko added.
This open invitation sparked conversations about driver moves and future line-ups of F1’s top teams. However, it is important to note that Norris has committed to McLaren until the end of 2026, a fact that Marko himself acknowledges. “Norris has a contract until 2026, so he’s not a short-term option, like Oscar Piastri. But either reason is attractive to us in the long run,” he said.
With Red Bull leading the way with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, the potential inclusion of Norris after 2026 offers an intriguing glimpse into the team’s long-term strategic vision. Perez’s consistent performances this season have likely solidified his position, but the appeal of bringing a young skill like Norris into his lineup may simply be a way to optimize his duo for the start of the new season. It’s fair to say that Perez hasn’t done a better job, even though he’s better than he was last season. So far, Norris and Verstappen also share a strong friendship, which would only work in their favor.
Norris’ performance at the Chinese Grand Prix was not only a personal victory but also a strategic triumph for McLaren. Team principal Andrea Stella expressed his satisfaction with the team’s strangely solid performance.
“We came here thinking it was a damage control event, but it was actually a competitive event,” Stella said. “It’s clear that we want to refine our understanding, but F1 surprises because it’s delicate with a lot of parameters. “The result is a clever surprise and a real satisfaction for the men and women of McLaren. A wonderful effort,” Stella added.