Lando Norris will be thinking about moves elsewhere on the grid due to McLaren’s current position, believes ex-Formula 1 driver Karun Chandhok.
Norris joined McLaren in 2019 as a rookie and has starred for the team on numerous occasions, taking several podium results as well as a pole position two years ago.
However, the Woking-based squad has had a far-from-ideal start to the 2023 campaign, admitting prior to the first race of the year that it had missed development goals with its MCL60 car.
The season-opener in Bahrain was a difficult showing for McLaren, with Norris pitting six times during the race due to a pneumatic pressure leak.
The team is eyeing upgrades in the coming races to boost its form.
Norris’ team-mate Oscar Piastri also endured a troubled outing on his debut, retiring from the race after 15 laps with a mechanical problem.
Norris is currently tied down to McLaren until the end of the 2025 campaign, but Chandhok has pondered if there are release clauses in his contract that could see him depart early.
“Someone who will be thinking about a move to Ferrari or Red Bull is young Lando Norris, won’t he, looking at where they’re at,” Chandhok told Sky F1.
“We were talking about it before the season, about McLaren locking him in and Zak Brown doing an amazing job locking him in for that four year period.
“I do wonder, and I think if they’re smart they would’ve created some sort of exit clause… for example if McLaren don’t finish in the top four in the Constructors’ Championship two years in a row, is there an option for Lando to look elsewhere.
“Outside of the traditional top three teams, you’ve got Fernando and Lando who are your top two drivers on the grid.
“The fact that he’s fighting to get the car into Q3, there’s got to be a bit of frustration there, I can imagine.”
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