“I think Max explained it well,” Lando Norris agrees with Max Verstappen’s stance on salary cap
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Lando Norris
Lando Norris agreed with remarks made by Max Verstappen that an F1 salary restriction may ultimately deter sponsors from investing in young drivers.
Verstappen has been one of the most vocal opponents of a prospective driver salary cap, calling wage limits “absolutely incorrect,” as the argument over whether drivers’ salaries should be factored into the annual budget constraints for teams continues.
After winning his championship, the current World Champion signed a massive seven-year contract with Red Bull. He did so because he believed that a salary cap would undermine the revenue that drivers themselves bring to the teams through the use of image rights, merchandise sales, and the popularity of the sport.
Watch: What F1 Drivers Think Of Lando Norris
Additionally, he believes it might be used against the coming generation.
“In all the junior categories, if you see how many of those drivers have a sponsor or backer, who eventually will have a certain percentage of their income in potentially Formula 1 or whatever, I think it’s going to limit that a lot, because they will never get their return, in money, if you get a cap,” PlanetF1 quoted the Red Bull driver.
Also read: What does Pierre Gasly’s AlphaTauri contract extension mean for Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 future?
Lando Norris agrees with Verstappen upon the same
At the same press conference as Verstappen, Norris concurred, thinking that the requirement for a return on investment for financial supporters may make it more difficult for drivers to receive sponsorship money in the first place. “I think Max explained it well, really – mainly because I’ve not had to think about it probably as much as him,” Norris stated. “They obviously want their money back at some point and you’re going to have to do that. If it gets capped, and so on, it’s much harder, and will interest people much less to ever invest into young drivers and invest into people having chances to get to Formula 1 in the first place.
“So, I think that’s probably one of the main points. But Max has probably thought about it much better than me – and therefore his answer is better.”
Following the completion of a contract renewal with McLaren last year, Norris was offered a new, long-term contract, which would keep him a McLaren driver through the end of 2025. This has reportedly made Norris one of the sport’s best earnings.
Also read: Ferrari to run Red Bull-inspired new rear wing “to attain more top speed”
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Gunaditya Tripathi
(274 Articles Published)