Alex Albon asserts Lando Norris holds an ‘open invitation’ to join the Red Bull

Lando Norris is currently tied under contract with McLaren until 2025.

Alex Albon asserts Lando Norris holds an ‘open invitation’ to join the Red Bull

Lando Norris (right) and Alex Albon (left) (Credits: IMAGO)

McLaren’s Lando Norris has recently attracted attention regarding a potential future move to Red Bull. The Austrian team was rumored to be making advances to secure the British driver as a future teammate of Max Verstappen. However, nothing solid has come out recently about this. However, Williams driver Alex Albon claims that Norris already has an ‘open invitation’ to join the Milton Keynes outfit.

Amidst the ongoing rumor mill, Albon claimed that Lando Norris already has a standing invitation from the Red Bull camp. The Thai driver, formerly associated with the Red Bull team and once Verstappen’s teammate, asserts that not everyone views teaming up with Max favorably. During his 18-month stint alongside Verstappen, Albon grappled with the formidable Dutchman’s pace, leading to his eventual departure despite a robust junior career.

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Speaking to Sky Sports F1, when Albon was pressed if his friend, Lando, is considering joining Red Bull, he said, “I think if he wants it, yes.” Speaking from experience, the Thai driver said, “But let’s see, because I think no one enjoys to be Max’s team-mates. It’s hard – I have experience with that.”

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Max Verstappen is currently dominating the F1 scene and is on the cusp of winning his third title in a row. On the other hand, his teammate, Sergio Perez, is nowhere to be found. However, the Willaims driver believes that if Lando is confident that he can fare well against the Dutchman, he should join alongside Max. He claimed, “But if he’s confident in himself, which he should be – from what I hear, the invitation has been open for a while.”

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Alex Albon believes Lando Norris is tied up with McLaren and sees no urgent need for a huge change

A couple of weeks ago, Christian Horner, the Chief of Red Bull Racing, lauded Norris and subtly extended an offer for him to consider joining Red Bull once Perez’s contract concludes in 2024. Despite Norris being under contract with McLaren until the end of 2025, Red Bull’s overtures have faced a stern rebuttal from McLaren. 

Zak Brown and Lando Norris
Zak Brown and Lando Norris (Credits: Planet F1)

While the Briton has been receiving appreciation from the Red Bull camp, transitioning from one team to another is akin to a delicate dance, with contractual intricacies and team dynamics at play. He expressed that assessing the situation currently is challenging. Like his bond with Williams, he discerns the robust connection Lando shares with McLaren. Albon feels that “for now, it looks like there’s no reason to change.”

The McLaren team has dismissed any notion of releasing Norris to join Red Bull as Verstappen’s teammate. Norris has dispelled these speculations, reaffirming his unwavering commitment to McLaren and his singular focus on clinching championships with the team. It remains to be seen how the story unfolds and who will be Verstappen’s teammate in 2025. 

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