The Formula 1 future of Lando Norris could be up in the air amid McLaren’s struggles. Where could the 23-year-old end up?
Lando Norris could be in a different Formula 1 team’s garage quite soon, as there are valid and growing reasons why he should consider leaving McLaren.
There are several different routes he could take going forward. He could choose to stick with McLaren and ride it out, look for a new team for 2024, or look for a new team for 2025 as his options grow.
Here are three potential landing spots for Norris as he determines his future.
Possible Lando Norris landing spots: No. 1 – Alfa Romeo
This could be a very interesting possibility for Lando Norris, as he could look to move into the next phase of his career. A potential partnership with Valtteri Bottas could fare quite well when put up against the rest of the grid.
Those two driving the C44 could put Alfa Romeo atop the midfield battle. But it is only made possible if Alfa Romeo part ways with Guanyu Zhou.
Norris could look two different ways with Alfa Romeo. For one, he could sign a one-year deal with the team and look to move elsewhere for 2025, as his options would be far more enticing.
On the other hand, Norris could commit his future to Alfa Romeo and become the face of the team once Audi take over in 2026. Both are definitely intriguing possibilities for the young Brit.
Possible Lando Norris landing spots: No. 2 – Mercedes
Joining Mercedes is definitely on the table for Lando Norris, but it relies entirely on what Lewis Hamilton chooses to do with his future. Until he signs another contract, nothing is certain for the seven-time world champion.
But Norris could potentially take Hamilton’s place, and there are a number of different ways it could be achieved. Hamilton could leave at the end of the 2023 season, making it an enticing choice for the 23-year-old in 2024.
Another option is for Hamilton to sign a one-year deal with Mercedes and either retire or join Ferrari in 2025, given the fact that both of their drivers are under contract through 2024.
Either way, if Norris to Mercedes were to become a reality, it would form quite the duo, with the Silver Arrows once again having an all-British driver lineup with Norris and George Russell. Mercedes could look to maintain this pairing for the long term, given that both drivers are in the early stages of their careers.
This could be the big break Norris is looking for. We all know that he holds a lot of talent, and with a competitive car, he could produce great success. His aspirations of winning a world championship could become a reality with a potential move to Mercedes on the table.
Possible Lando Norris landing spots: No. 3 – Ferrari
This would be an interesting and surprising move for Lando Norris, to say the least. The 23-year-old would not be able to make the switch until 2025, given the fact that both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. are under contract until the end of the 2024 season. Additionally, Leclerc could be up for an extension in the near future, based on recent rumors.
The thought of Norris pairing up with Leclerc, Sainz, or potentially even Lewis Hamilton would definitely make Ferrari serious contenders for the constructor and driver world championships.
Of course, Norris could potentially look the other way, given the fact that Ferrari have been dealing with reliability and strategy issues as of late.
However, regardless of their issues, they still build a competitive car. That could entice Norris, given the fact that McLaren have failed to provide him with a car that meets his expectations since he reached Formula 1 in 2019.
Even though this would be an intriguing move, it is ultimately very dependent on how Ferrari feel about their current drivers, as there is no guarantee that they are in the market to replace either one. But don’t rule it out, given the uncertainty surrounding Norris’s future and his potential appeal to rival teams.