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David Coulthard believes it will take a ‘breakdown of relations’ for Lando Norris to leave McLaren amid rumours that the team could sign Max Verstappen.
It comes as the Dutchman’s long-serving race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, will join McLaren from 2028. He is the latest key figure around Verstappen to leave Red Bull, and it has prompted speculation that he could also be out the door.
Lambiase is putting a good word in for Verstappen at McLaren, fuelling rumours that he could make the switch to the Woking outfit at some point. Naturally, this would mean either Norris or Oscar Piastri will lose their seat.
Which McLaren driver will leave the team first?
Let us know your reasoning in the comments!
Many people have pointed towards the latter leaving McLaren, given the aftermath of the 2025 title fight. Naomi Schiff says Piastri is in a worse mood than Norris after the way the team handled papaya rules and left him finishing P3 after leading the standings for 15 races.
Ralf Schumacher can see Piastri replacing Verstappen at Red Bull if the Dutchman were to leave the team, which he is free to do in 2026 through an exit clause in his contract. Coulthard cannot see Norris leaving McLaren, unless he fell out with Zak Brown.
David Coulthard thinks it will take a ‘breakdown of relations’ for Lando Norris to leave McLaren
Speaking on Up To Speed, the former Red Bull driver does not think the defending champion is ‘going anywhere’, pointing out that Brown has been with him since before he joined McLaren. It will take a breakdown of that partnership for Norris to jump ship.
“I don’t think Lando’s going anywhere,” said Coulthard. “I think he’s part of that family. Zak has been part of his management team since way before Formula 1. So, yeah, it would take a breakdown in relations for him to move.”
Co-host Will Buxton then addressed the rumours surrounding teammate Piastri: “And I think there were already the rumours last year, and there’s no smoke without fire in Formula 1, that Oscar or Oscar’s team were already putting feelers out.
“There was a joke, wasn’t there, halfway through last year that Oscar had been learning Italian. I mean look, if Max is available and still has the hunger for F1 critically, then my god, there’s going to be a bidding war.”
READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration
Could Lando Norris’ contract allow Max Verstappen to join McLaren?
The McLaren duo have been linked with Red Bull in the past. Helmut Marko spoke to Norris’ father back in 2024, with the Milton Keynes outfit having failed to sign him as a junior driver.
Norris has been with McLaren his entire career, committing his long-term future to the team back in 2024. This decision paid off as he won the championship over Verstappen in 2025.
Will Max Verstappen keep his word as Gianperio Lambiase leaves Red Bull?
But his contract could be an opportunity for the Dutchman to move to Woking. Norris’ contract clause could see him leave McLaren in 2027, as it is believed that the team have the option to extend that deal for 2028.
Coincidentally, that is when Verstappen’s Red Bull contract expires, and rumours are suggesting that he could take a sabbatical from F1 at the end of 2026. It could line up perfectly for the four-time champion to reunite with Lambiase.
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