A former F1 team manager hasn't ruled out Lando Norris making a shock move away from struggling McLaren.
Last year the British driver, long tipped as a future world champion, signed a lucrative contract extension to keep him at the club until the end of 2025. And he stated his intention to reach his ultimate goal with his current team, with the sport's new regulations seemingly upping their chances of competing with front runners Red Bull.
But that notion hasn't materialised. The 23-year-old finished seventh in the standings in 2022, and has struggled to make an impact so far this year. He's managed just 12 points in seven Grand Prix races, leaving him languishing in seventh overall.
The team are also sixth in the Constructors' standings, behind the likes of Aston Martin and Alpine. And despite Norris long being linked with the likes of Red Bull and Mercedes, ex-Ferrari and Williams chief Peter Windsor believes a left-field move to Otmar Szafnauer's team could be on the cards when his current deal expires in 2025.
“I think there’s half a chance he might go to Alpine, is there not?” he told his YouTube channel. “I think he’s on another year (two years) so it’s a bit of a wait but Alpine are not going badly, there seems to be a lot of muscle behind that team.
“I’m only saying that because I’m trying to think of what places there might actually be for Lando. And wouldn’t that be an interesting swap. Alpine are looking pretty tight now, pretty good team, good looking team.”
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Norris has a close friendship with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, who is already odds on to win a third straight F1 championship crown after his latest win in Spain. But Windsor isn't convinced that the dynamics of a move to join Christian Horner's team would work.
“Well then the trouble would start because how’s he going to beat Max Verstappen and then what does Lando Norris become, does he become just a really good number two or what?" he added. “I think that’s a possibility.”
In 89 F1 starts, Norris is still yet to register his first win. But his potential has also seen him touted as an eventual replacement for Lewis Hamilton at the Silver Arrows.
