The latest chapter in Red Bull‘s relentless pursuit of Lando Norris seems to be shaking up the grid yet again, as insinuations from a recent podcast have the racing community buzzing. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko acknowledges Norris’ talent and suggests that many teams would be interested in him once his McLaren contract expires in 2025. While there’s speculation about Norris potentially joining Red Bull due to Sergio Perez’s uncertain future, Norris remains committed to McLaren for now and is open to future possibilities depending on circumstances after 2025.

Speaking to the Red Flags Podcast, Nate Saunders weighed in on the brewing storm at Red Bull and the dizzying carousel of names that are continually floating around when it comes to filling seats. Notably, the focus turned sharply to the rising star, Lando Norris, who has apparently been a significant blip on Red Bull’s radar for a while now.

According to Saunders, “Red Bull definitely want Lando at some point. They tried to get him before he joined F1.“ This unyielding interest from Red Bull allegedly played a substantial role in prompting Norris’s recent contract extension with McLaren, an extension that perhaps took many by surprise.

“It was actually the two of them speaking. I think Red Bull had a conversation with Lando that prompted his contract extension with McLaren. The one that everyone kind of said after was like, you know, what the hell is going on?“ Saunders elucidated, painting a picture of frantic negotiations and swift moves made to secure Norris till 2025, revising his deal which initially lasted till either 2024 or the current year.

As the game of thrones in the racing world continues to heat up, eyes are fixed on the movements of the Red Bull camp, with insiders and fans alike pondering the same resounding question: “What the hell is going on?”

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While Norris is undoubtedly in Red Bull’s sights, the recent interview brought out his viewpoint on McLaren’s trajectory, where he interestingly bypassed a golden chapter scripted by none other than Daniel Ricciardo in 2021. This chapter not only marked Ricciardo’s triumphant moment but arguably laid a cornerstone for the team’s rejuvenation that Norris is proudly part of today.

Lando Norris overlooks Ricciardo’s contribution to recent McLaren progress

As McLaren continues to build on recent successes, Lando Norris seemingly dismisses the contribution of former teammate Daniel Ricciardo to McLaren’s upswing in fortunes. In a fresh reflection on McLaren’s journey, Norris, who has yet to secure a win in 96 Grand Prix starts, underscored the team’s current progress, failing to acknowledge Ricciardo’s key role in the unit’s resurgence.

Speaking via the McLaren website, he remarked, “It’s made me feel a lot more confident that we’ve been able to continue in a much better way than we have in the past. Whereas, in the past, there were always times when the hopes were raised, but we didn’t continue on some of the improvements we made.”

Notwithstanding Norris’ oversight, the records will always accentuate that it was Ricciardo who revitalized a dormant McLaren with a victory in the tumultuous 2021 Grand Prix, marking the squad’s first triumph since 2012. This phenomenal win also chronicled a first one-two finish for the British outfit since 2010, putting them back on the success map.

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Whilst Norris finds himself on a trajectory of renewed confidence, Ricciardo would surely recall the reward bestowed upon him by McLaren boss Zak Brown—a prized run in Dale Earnhardt Sr’s 1984 NASCAR at the US Grand Prix weekend. It was a gesture commemorating his 2021 Grand Prix victory. With McLaren seeming to ride on a new wave of optimism, one would hope that the contributions of predecessors, including that of Ricciardo, find deserving acknowledgment in the echelons of McLaren’s rich racing history.