Following the poor begin to the 2023 System 1 championship for McLaren, former F1 driver and present tv presenter Karun Chandhok believes Lando Norris’ disappointment relating to the route is group is taking based mostly on the efficiency within the Bahrain Grand Prix will decide him to search for totally different choices relating to his System 1 future.
After the winter pre-season testing session on the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit, the British group admitted that they weren’t capable of obtain the targets set for the event of their MCL60 automotive, however on the identical time McLaren wished to downplay the unfavourable headlines that their present state of affairs had led to forward of the beginning of the brand new season.
Nonetheless, a double retirement within the season-opening occasion on the Sakhir circuit final weekend, during which Lando Norris narrowly prevented a Q1 exit based mostly on a regulation had a number of key F1 figures expressing their considerations for McLaren and its future.
British motorsport commentator and columnist Jolyon Palmer admitted to being “a bit unhappy” for Lando Norris having to struggle in the back of the sphere, whereas Karun Chandhok believes that the present state of affairs and lack of prospects in McLaren may see the driving force weighing up his choices for the next years:
“I inform you who might be eager about a transfer to Ferrari or Crimson Bull although, is younger Lando Norris,” he identified in a latest dialogue for the Sky Sports activities F1 Podcast – “ the place they’re [McLaren] at, and we have been speaking earlier than the season of McLaren locking him in and Zak [Brown] doing a tremendous job of contracting him in for that four-year interval. I do marvel, and in the event that they’re good they’d have created some form of exit clauses. For instance, McLaren don’t end within the prime 4 of the Constructors’ Championship two years in a row, is there an choice for Lando to look elsewhere? “As a result of exterior of the normal prime three groups, you’ve obtained Fernando [Alonso] and Lando who’re your prime two drivers on the grid aren’t they? And the actual fact he [Norris] is preventing to even get a automotive into Q3, there’s obtained to be a little bit of frustration there I might think about.” – he added.
Present your assist for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise assortment! Click on right here to enter the F1 on-line Retailer and store securely! And likewise get your F1 tickets for each race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider entry. Click on right here for the most effective provides to assist Charles and Carlos from the monitor!
Karun Chandhok, who competed for Hispania Racing in System One in 2010, beforehand expressed the identical view relating to the way forward for Lando Norris, predicting that it was solely a matter of time earlier than the British driver would begin to consider different choices, similar to Ferrari. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz each have a contract that’s at present accessible till the top of the 2024 System 1 championship. Whereas the Spanish driver must enhance his performances as a way to obtain a brand new deal, the Maranello group would clearly wish to signal a contract extension with the Monegasque, however as issues stand it’s Charles Leclerc who could have doubts relating to his future with Ferrari, given the step backwards which the Italian facet appears to have made as in comparison with the earlier season.
Mercedes can be a attainable choice for Lando Norris, in case Lewis Hamilton decides to depart the game on the finish of the 2024 F1 marketing campaign. In an interview earlier than the Bahrain Grand Prix, Karun Chandhok identified that if McLaren couldn’t get it proper and Mercedes might be trying to substitute Lewis Hamilton then Norris have an ideal probability of receiving a suggestion:
“His choices are to go to Mercedes when Lewis Hamilton stops as a result of George [Russell] isn’t going anyplace,” Karun Chandhok stated, based on Autosport. “He can keep at McLaren I believe till that occurs mainly. I believe McLaren can safely maintain onto him till that occurs. However, let’s say we get to the top of this yr and Lewis out of the blue decides ‘I’ve had sufficient, I’m gone’. Then I really feel prefer it’s going to be fairly an advanced course of as a result of little doubt about it Lando has obtained to the primary decide, he’s obtained to Mercedes’ primary decide to interchange Lewis.” – the Sky Sport F1 skilled concluded.
Mar 8, 2023
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers learn about us
