April 26, 2024 11:24
Photo: XPB Images
Mathias Lauda, son of the legendary Niki Lauda, believes Lando Norris would be the perfect teammate for Max Verstappen at Red Bull. He was impressed by the McLaren driver’s high level of competitiveness.
Norris took pole position in the Sprint race in Shanghai, and the following day he finished second in the Chinese Formula 1 GP, preventing Red Bull from achieving another one-two finish.
“Lando did a great job. Sergio Perez couldn’t get close to him,” said Lauda, who saw the Mexican finish third. “Perez could be second if everything goes well, but he can’t lead races alone like Verstappen. After Verstappen, I see Norris as one of the best drivers in Formula 1.”
Norris recently renewed his contract with McLaren, remaining linked to the team until 2027. As a result, Red Bull will not be able to count on the 24-year-old Brit’s talent in the coming seasons.
Lauda continued: “Norris alongside Verstappen would be a logical choice for me. He is showing at McLaren how much he is worth. The problem is that Max feels too comfortable with Perez. No top driver wants a teammate who can challenge him,” said Lauda, suggesting that Norris would have that potential at Red Bull. Helmut Marko, consultant for the Austrian team, has also publicly declared his admiration for Norris.
Red Bull is still looking for a second driver to race alongside Verstappen in 2025. Perez remains the favorite, with a possible contract renewal on the way, although Carlos Sainz and possibly Yuki Tsunoda are also in the team’s sights.
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