Helmut Marko shares what he said to Lando Norris’s father amid Red Bull links

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Red Bull Racing chief Helmut Marko is always on the search for the team’s next driver and had a conversation with Lando Norris’s father after the Chinese Grand Prix.

Lando Norris was one of the stars of the show in Shanghai and while he couldn’t convert his Sprint Race pole into his first Formula 1 win, he more than made up for it during Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Speaking to Servus TV after the race, Helmut Marko shared what was said in the conversation between himself and Norris’s dad.

Helmut Marko shares conversation with Lando Norris’s father after the Chinese Grand Prix

The Formula 1 driver’s market is providing a fascinating side plot to the 2024 season.

Red Bull have one driver signed up for 2025 and beyond – Max Verstappen – while Sergio Perez is currently fighting for his seat.

The Mexican was on the podium again on Sunday and is comfortably in second place in the Drivers’ Championship.

However, aside from Verstappen driving off into the distance as he typically does, it was Lando Norris who got the better of him in Shanghai.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from height and parents to celebration

After the second safety car, Perez should have a free run at the young Brit to secure a fourth one-two of the season for Red Bull.

Unfortunately, he had to concentrate on keeping the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc behind him, allowing the 24-year-old to earn the 15^th podium finish of his Formula 1 career.

Helmut Marko made a point of talking to Lando Norris’s father after the race which might worry team principal Andrea Stella.

The Austrian admitted before the race that he was interested in bringing Norris to Red Bull if the opportunity ever arose.

Helmut Marko sets his sights on one of F1’s biggest talents

Asked what was said between himself and Norris’s father, Marko said: “He is young and certainly in our focus.

“His father always jokes that Lando won’t celebrate his first Grand Prix victory until Max [Verstappen] retires.

“I told him that he had to come to us, then it would definitely go faster.”

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine

Should Lando Norris swap McLaren for Red Bull?

Lando Norris’s father may have been having an innocent conversation with Helmut Marko in China, but the 80-year-old doesn’t shy away from fanning the flames of the rumour mill with his comments in the press.

He’s already namechecked one driver when asked about the next Max Verstappen and admitted that Red Bull have to consider Carlos Sainz when he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.

Norris now has 15 Formula 1 podiums, extending the record he inherited from Nick Heidfeld for most top-three finishes without a race win.

McLaren are heading in the right direction and if they continue to make steps forward will eventually put themselves in a position to win races.

It depends on how patient Norris wants to be and whether he believes he has a better chance at McLaren or Red Bull when the regulations change in 2026 to challenge for victories and even championships.

Even if the Red Bull continues to be the fastest car, that’s no guarantee of success.

At McLaren, he’s currently the de facto number-one driver ahead of youngster Oscar Piastri.

If he joined the Austrian outfit, he’d have the unenviable task of fighting Max Verstappen every week.