After McLaren Poached Red Bull’s Priceless Asset, Lando Norris Weighs in on the Transfer With a Brutal Reality Check

Formula 1 is all about momentum. Teams like Mercedes and Red Bull have capitalized on this aspect and forged dynasties every time the colloquial clean slate was introduced in the sport. One such team that was expected to make that big step up with the newest technical regulations was McLaren. However, the Woking-based team has bitterly disappointed its fanbase, and star driver, Lando Norris.

2022 was a bitter pill to swallow for McLaren. The performance wasn’t what they had expected. That being said, in 2023, the team has fallen backward. Now, as the newest era of F1 starts to settle in, the team, in a now-or-never attempt to revamp its title ambitions, has played a massive hand in the market. The team has poached Red Bull’s Rob Marshall to make him their latest technical director.

Lando Norris gives his verdict on McLaren’s administrative masterclass

Anything and anyone touched by Red Bull is golden in today’s landscape in the sport. And Lando Norris is well aware of this. After leading Red Bull to the dominant success they have been enjoying now, Marshall will hope to emulate the same at McLaren, and the 23-year-old is counting on it, too.

FormulaPassion.it quoted Norris as saying, “Marshall’s experience and knowledge has contributed to the successes of Red Bull in recent years. He has been one of the brightest minds in F1, so he has a lot of brains and is a great arrival for us as a team. Many people will look up to him at McLaren, so I hope he can help give us a boost by adding performance and experience.” [translated via Google Translate]

But the Brit knows that the road to glory will be a testing one. He concluded by admitting, “Time is often needed in F1.” But he remains bullish about the future. “But we are certainly taking a step forward and I can say that with confidence and certainty.”

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Marshall will definitely add some spark to McLaren’s ambitions. But will Norris be around to reap the benefits of this?

Is McLaren running on borrowed time?

While Marshall will be key to McLaren’s eventual success, currently Norris is the best bet for championship success. However, with the team faltering at every step of the way, does Norris have enough patience and faith to stay put at Woking?

According to Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz, “If a top team or a team with a more competitive car comes in for him, as they say in football, and taps him up, then anything’s possible. There’s no contract that can’t be got out of and if Lando loses the faith, then it’s absolutely possible he could move.”

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Will Rob Marshall’s McLaren arrival be enough to tie Lando Norris down to the team for the long term?