Zak Brown’s Fumbling Leadership Provides Lando Norris a Way Out After Alarming Lewis Hamilton Statement by Toto Wolff

McLaren CEO Zak Brown, even before the start of the season, talked about his team missing some goals. Missing those development goals turned out to be really bad for the papaya team in the season opener in Bahrain. Max Verstappen lapped Lando Norris twice during the race where the Briton finished P17. His partner Oscar Piastri could not even finish the race owing to an electrical issue he faced during Lap 15. Things haven’t looked too uphill since the completion of two practice sessions in Jeddah either. This has led to questions being raised over Brown’s leadership capabilities as a driver like Norris wouldn’t hang around for too long if success isn’t in sight. Moreover, the prospect of him replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes soon does not sound too ridiculous after Toto Wolff’s latest confession.

Hamilton isn’t going through a purple patch with Mercedes either. After a winless season last year, the 7x champion was keen on bouncing back to the top in 2023. However, it looks like the team has further fallen down the pecking order owing to Aston Martin’s meteoric rise. Therefore, his stay with the Brackley-based team could end with rumors of a Ferrari move picking up.

The situation with the two British drivers had a fan wondering if their paths could collide. Answering their question in a recent episode of Sky Sports F1 podcast, Jess McFadyen told, “It’s an interesting question because a lot of people were saying how Lando and Lewis’ futures might be interlinked. And [the user who asked the question] touched on it there in terms of maybe if Lewis retires, Lando takes his seat which is an interesting one because if we’re saying that Lewis potentially has five years, I don’t know how quickly Mercedes can turn it around to give him his eighth title because he has pretty much said he’s going to stick around until his eighth and then we’ll see, he’s got nothing else to prove in Formula One.”

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Jess’ comment suggests that Hamilton might have the patience to stick around even if Mercedes cannot deliver a championship-winning car in 5 years. Toto Wolff feels very differently about it.

Lando Norris could replace Lewis Hamilton as early as 2 years in the future

Hamilton is 38 as of now and getting increasingly impatient to win the record-breaking 8th world title. Things aren’t going too well at Brackley and that could push the Briton to look elsewhere to achieve his dream. That time could come in 2 years if the Silver Arrows don’t pull up their socks.

BBC recently quoted Toto as saying, “if he wants to win another championship, he needs to make sure he has the car. If we cannot demonstrate we are able to give him the car in the next couple of years, he needs to look everywhere.”

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The comments clearly indicate that the clock is not just ticking for Hamilton, but also for Mercedes. But could his misery turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Norris? Only time will tell.