Red Bull tried to sign Lando Norris to team with Max Verstappen

Red Bull Racing tried to sign McLaren driver Lando Norris but was not able to bring him to the team, as he was in a long-term contract with the British outfit. 

Head of Red Bull Racing’s driver development program Helmut Marko, made the revelation recently, stating that the team had discussions with the Brit in the past. 

“We’ve had talks with him, but he’s tied to McLaren for the long term. We remain true to our path,” said Marko. 

Marko admits that Norris caught his eye before, but he is pleased with the team’s current No. 1 Max Verstappen and says the Dutchman is still the best in his eyes. 

“I’m proud that we dared to bring Max into Formula 1 at the age of 16. He has never made me doubt that our path was the right one. He is always super focused and doesn’t let anything distract him from his goal of winning. Norris has caught my eye before.”

“But Max is still at the top of my rankings because he can deliver immediately in all conditions and without a run-up, which he proved again impressively just now in the rain in Sochi. He almost even won the race, he just had to come into the pits one lap earlier,” said the Red Bull Racing advisor. 

Lando Norris signed a new contract with McLaren in May, which will keep the 21-year-old with the team until 2024. Norris was signed by McLaren to their young driver program in 2017 and became the team’s reserve driver a year later.

After finishing second behind George Russell in the 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship, Norris got a drive for the 2019 F1 season, alongside Carlos Sainz. He finished 11th in the Drivers’ Championship in his first season in F1 and bettered it the following season, finishing 9th in the standings. He even secured a podium in the very first race of the season at Austria. 

Norris has had a sensational third season in F1 and is currently 4th in the standings. He was close to winning the Russian Grand Prix, but rain spoiled his maiden win and he ended in 7th.

McLaren has improved their car significantly this season and has jumped ahead of Ferrari in the pecking order in the Constructors’ Championship. With F1’s new regulations coming into force next season, McLaren and Norris could be fighting with the likes of Mercedes and Red Bull Racing next season at the top of the order.