McLaren’s Lando Norris reveals he nearly moved to Red Bull to partner Max Verstappen

Lando Norris is seventh within the standings, far behind title winner Max Verstappen (Photograph: Getty)

McLaren star Lando Norris has confirmed that he held talks with Purple Bull over a transfer that may have seen him racing alongside Max Verstappen.

Norris has solely ever pushed for McLaren since his Method One debut in 2019, and forward of this season he stunned many by signing a brand new long-term contract with the group till 2025.

The 22-year-old is without doubt one of the highest-rated drivers on the grid having picked up six podiums in his quick profession, nevertheless he has scarcely had the possibility to problem for wins and due to this fact championships, with McLaren nonetheless a way off the main groups.

Issues might have been very completely different nevertheless had the British racer switched to a different group, one thing that had been rumoured to have almost occurred on multiple event.

However now, Norris has confirmed that Purple Bull have been certainly occupied with his providers up to now however he turned them down to stay with the McLaren challenge.

‘In fact there are talks with different individuals once in a while,’ he informed Auto Motor und Sport forward of this weekend’s United States Grand Prix.

‘You at all times ask your self the query, “What's the neatest thing for my profession?” I need to win and win world championships.

Verstappen and Norris are shut pals off the monitor (Photograph: Getty)

‘There have been talks with Purple Bull. They're a group that has been within the prime three for years.

‘However that simply exhibits much more how a lot confidence I've in McLaren. Though there have been talks, I felt McLaren was higher for me to realize my objectives.’

Whereas it's not clear when these talks came about, it might virtually actually imply that Norris would have partnered certainly one of his closest pals on the grid Verstappen, who lately wrapped up back-to-back titles.

McLaren are fifth within the standings, 13 factors behind Alpine (Photograph: Getty)

With Purple Bull very a lot the group to beat proper now, Norris might remorse his alternative to stay with McLaren, particularly given how they've regressed in 2022, and at the moment are preventing Alpine simply to complete fourth within the standings.

However the younger Brit insists he made the appropriate alternative, including: ‘I’m tremendous glad and cozy. I take pleasure in it at McLaren.

‘I take pleasure in working with the fellows. I imagine in them. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have signed a long-term contract.

‘My head is trying forward. My concepts are long-term. We now have to maintain working repeatedly. In 2024 and 2025, I'll then have my greatest likelihood with McLaren.’

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