Ex-F1 driver Johnny Herbert picks Lando Norris to replace struggling Sergio Perez at Red Bull

Sergio Perez’s contract with Red Bull terminates at the end of the 2025 season.

Sergio Perez (Image credit: PlanetF1), Johnny Herbert (Image credit: PlanetF1) and Lando Norris (Image credit: The Independent)

Exclusively aligned with McLaren in his F1 journey, Lando Norris has emerged as a prime driving talent. His adeptness at maximizing car performance shines through. The prospect of Norris clinching victories is widely endorsed, pending a high-performance car beneath him. The timing of his opportunity is uncertain; however, Johnny Herbert believes a switch to Red Bull could turn Norris into a multi-race victor.

Johnny Herbert questioned the potential replacement for Sergio Perez, suggesting Lando Norris as a prospect while acknowledging contract complexities. He expressed uncertainty about Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz leaving Ferrari, emphasizing the challenges of competing with Max Verstappen at Red Bull due to his formidable presence.

“Who do you replace Perez with? They could look at Lando Norris – I don’t know if he can get out of his contract. I don’t see why Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz would like to leave Ferrari, I know there are some frustrations, but there’s a big risk factor to consider when it comes to joining Red Bull because Verstappen is there,” Herbert stated, according to Motorsport Week.

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Also read: Lando Norris claims Lewis Hamilton still has a lot of ‘respect and love’ for McLaren F1

Sergio Perez grapples with qualifying challenges as Max Verstappen eyes third title

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez (Image credit: PlanetF1)

Sergio Perez’s lackluster qualifiers have him battling for championship standing as Max Verstappen eyes a third title. Securing second place and reviving form become Perez’s focus. Uncertainties loom if he fails, despite his Red Bull contract until 2024. Meanwhile, Norris is tied to McLaren, but potential Red Bull interest could swiftly reshape his situation.

Johnny Herbert remarked that maintaining a substantial gap between teammates is undesirable. He noted Verstappen’s contentment with the situation due to the absence of pressure or rivalry. Herbert pointed out Red Bull’s awareness of the necessity for consistent top performance as competitors improve. He suggested that if he were Sergio Perez, he would feel concerned and uneasy.

? | Helmut Marko says he can imagine Lando Norris driving for Red Bull, not Hamilton though.

"With Norris, I can well imagine that, with Hamilton I have a harder time."

"In principle, we never have a team order or anything like that. But the overall team atmosphere and… pic.twitter.com/K3kWcuuHd9
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) August 13, 2023

“You don’t want to be that far away from your teammate for sure. Verstappen is very happy with the situation because he’s not under pressure or being challenged in any way, but Red Bull know they’ll need someone that will be consistently at the top when the other teams get more competitive,” he stated.

Undoubtedly, McLaren’s recent surge in car performance showcased Norris’s ability to secure impressive outcomes, including a recent podium. It’s logical to infer that given a race-winning vehicle, he could consistently clinch first place.