24-year-old Red Bull considering as Sergio Perez replacement is heading towards new contract

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Discussions over potential driver movements are already underway and it appears as though Lando Norris is heading towards signing a new contract at McLaren amid interest from Red Bull.

Lando Norris is likely to be one of the most in-demand drivers on the grid if he doesn’t extend his contract beyond the 2025 season.

Speaking on The Race Podcast, journalist Scott Mitchell-Malm has provided an in-depth look at the Brit’s future heading into the 2024 campaign.

It’s no secret that Sergio Perez’s seat at Red Bull is under pressure after being outclassed by Max Verstappen last season.

Christian Horner has already told the Mexican what he needs to improve next year but with his contract set to expire in less than 12 months, the team will be looking at other options.

That’s why McLaren are now ‘on a path’ to tying down Norris to a new contract to prevent Red Bull from making an advance.

However, the 24-year-old has time on his side and with so much disruption in the driver market this year, he can afford to be patient even if he’s been told to reject a move to the Austrian team.

That means looking at the car his team produce in 2024 and seeing if it’s going to be able to deliver him that maiden race win he desperately wants.

If it looks like they’re off the pace then he could make his mind up about moving on and McLaren could then turn their focus towards his Australian teammate.

Norris ‘on a path’ to McLaren contract amid Red Bull interest

Speaking about the Brit’s future Mitchell-Malm said: “If we take it at face value what [Lando] Norris has said what Zak Brown has said what Andrea Stella has said, that relationship’s really strong and probably a lot stronger than it had any right to be in the first couple of months of 2023.

“So, Norris and McLaren are on a path again towards another renewal and a longer-term contract.

“But if McLaren takes a step back again in 2024 if [Oscar] Piastri does particularly well and puts Norris under pressure.

“If something changes elsewhere like Daniel Ricciardo has a mega-tug at AlphaTauri, Yuki Tsunoda continues to be someone continues to have no interest in, and Sergio Perez is for the exit door at Red Bull Racing after 2024, Red Bull will make another effort to sign Norris.

“And at that point, Norris might be moved to think actually have I given McLaren all of the time and patience and everything that I need to give them?

“And if any situation like that emerges whether Norris is definitely for the exit door, possibly for the exit door, having his head turned or whatever, that’s where Piastri can take control as well.

“Why would McLaren put everything behind Norris if they think there is a good or even decent chance of losing him at the end of 2025 when Piastri is signed up until 2026, in a different phase of his career?

“And not to say that Norris is disloyal in any way, but the ingredients for Piastri’s loyalty to continue, they’re kind of already there.

“Whereas McLaren need to do a little bit more convincing to keep Norris onboard longer term.”

Norris would be wise to bide his time before committing to McLaren

McLaren will know that offering Norris a new contract sooner rather than later has to be a priority considering that Red Bull and Ferrari will both be considering changing up their drivers in the near future.

They acted quickly to tie Oscar Piastri down to a new deal and that already looks like a very wise move.

However, Norris has the potential to challenge for world titles and needs to be in the right car to do so.

Up to this point, McLaren have failed to deliver on that front and with the majority of seats up for grabs this year, Norris might have to make a tricky decision at some point in 2024 if his car isn’t up to scratch.

Moving at the end of 2025 is equally risky as it means he’ll be picking his new team ahead of the next major rule change in Formula 1.