Lando Norris could be tempted to move to Audi when they take over the Sauber Formula 1 works team.
Norris, 23, has two years left to run on his McLaren contract and he is set to let that run out before deciding on his future at the end of the 2025 season. Norris is currently down in ninth in the Drivers' Championship, having struggled for form so far this campaign, picking up nine points from five races so far.
However, according to F1 presenter Tom Clarkson, Norris could be tempted to join Audi when they become an official team at the start of the 2026 season. Audi initially confirmed at last year's Belgian Grand Prix that they will join F1 when the new engine regulations are introduced in three years' time.
In October, Audi set out plans for a tie-up with Sauber that will see the Swiss company, currently competing as Alfa Romeo and using Ferrari power units, to become their works team. Three months' later, Sauber announced that Audi had acquired a minority stake in the team.
As for Norris, McLaren are pretty certain he won't leave them for pastures new, at least up until his contract expires. When asked about Norris, Clarkson admitted that McLaren must show serious progress for Bristol-born Norris to commit his future beyond the 2025 season.
"His contract is until the end of 2025," Clarkson of Norris on the F1 nation podcast. "I think he needs to see some serious progress from McLaren.
"Now actually, I get your point, loyalty. And McLaren does have everything it needs. It’s got a good budget, it’s got a new wind tunnel coming on stream, it’s got good engineers, but you need to start seeing progress.
"David Sanchez, who’s coming to take over the design of the car, doesn’t start until January 2024, so we’re only going to see the fruits of his labours in 2025 realistically, Lando’s last year at the team.
"The other question is okay, let’s say he loses patience, and he thinks ‘I’ve got to go elsewhere to win races and win the World Championship’, where does he go?"
Norris has been linked with a move to Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes but it doesn't look likely he will move to any of those due to their dominance so far this season.
