After Daniel Ricciardo’s Disrespectful Ouster, McLaren Boss’ Masterplan to Tie Lando Norris Down Applauded

When was the last time a big-name driver was snapped up from the lower berths of F1? While this may not have happened in the recent past of the sport, there are many examples we can go by. For instance, when Fernando Alonso was at Minardi, everyone knew the Spaniard’s potential. In came Renault to take the catch. That being said, in the current generation of F1, Lando Norris seems like the most probable driver to go through that career arc. But McLaren won’t be as civil as Minardi.

The 23-year-old British racing ace is bounded until the end of the 2025 season to the Woking-based team. It’s a fact, that when it comes to driver negotiations and dealings, the team can be as ruthless as anyone can get. Just ask Daniel Ricciardo. This is the killer instinct and drive that is going to see Norris probably ditch his own ambitions for the Papaya team.

McLaren makes a big play for Norris’ future

When it came to the underperforming Ricciardo, McLaren discarded him without a second thought. However, Norris is their talisman, and they’ve aimed long and big to ensure that the Brit stays put even after his current deal expires.

According to team principal, Andrea Stella, with a 24-race calendar debuting in 2024, the team has decided to shuffle personnel and race engineers around to be able to give the best possible resources to Norris going ahead. Certainly, a ploy to attract Norris to the long-term with a holistic view after dividends have been paying off on the developmental side of things.

During the latest episode of The VF1 Show, host VF Castro applauded this. She said, “I like the fact that McLaren, while they are adding all their upgrades to the car and they’re building that car up, which they’ve done a great job at. It seems like they’re also trying to make sure that they are giving their drivers the correct support outside of the car.”

But while McLaren is working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure everything is in place to lure Norris into signing another extension, are all their efforts in vain?

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Lando Norris makes a shocking confession

During the same podcast, the hosts also discussed the Brit’s contractual situation. While Norris is admittedly tied down to the Woking-based outfit till the end of the 2025 season, once that contract is up, Red Bull seems like the place to be. Lando Norris is no stranger to that possibility either.

Sky Sports F1 quoted the Brit as confessing, “In the back of my mind, there’s that impatient game of, ‘do I stick it out for another few years, or is it time to look at something different?”

Will Lando Norris be a Red Bull driver in 2026?

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