Marko Regrets: Norris Locked Out by F1 Contract as Perez Struggles Beside Verstappen
Sep.5 - Dr Helmut Marko admits it's 'unfortunate' that Lando Norris' McLaren contract has ruled him out of contention for a Red Bull seat for now.
Marko, fellow Red Bull chief Christian Horner and Norris' paddock friend Max Verstappen have mentioned 23-year-old Briton Norris' name in connection with a race seat multiple times recently.
The speculation coincided with Sergio Perez's recent performance slump in the context of teammate Verstappen's utter dominance in the sister 2023 Red Bull.
"Perez is not consistent. He is not always focused," Marko, 80, has now told Servus TV.
"But he has a contract until 2024 and Lando Norris has a contract until 2025. Unfortunate that it's for so long," he added. "Because he would be one of the candidates.
"We had already reached an agreement with Norris for Toro Rosso at the time, until his manager realised that there was an option in the contract with McLaren. But in terms of youth and speed, he would suit is very well.
"Sergio, on the other hand, is already over 30 and is having his fourth child. He already has other interests, so we will have to see what happens afterwards."
If Marko's comments sound like yet another major drop in support for Perez, he did acknowledge that the Mexican has a tough job to have Verstappen as teammate.
"On the one hand," said Marko, "the Red Bull seat is one of the most sought-after. But on the other hand you also have Max Verstappen as an opponent.
"You need a very strong personality and also incredible mental strength for that. Perez is the one who has managed it the best of all the drivers in recent years, and has also achieved victories."
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It's a bit presumptive of Marko to think that Lando wants to rush over to Red Bull when his current contract has expired!
Lando may well have other priorities.
Who knows, maybe in another two years Red Bull could have fallen from the top shelf!
Could be , you never know , nothing lasts for ever
Is Checo really becoming a father for the fourth time already?
His family is getting big.
Family and F1 are not a happy mix especially now with so many races. It already sounds like Max is becoming torn between the two.
Max is only a step-father by default, so he doesn't really belong in the same category as Checo, Kevin, & Nico.
How to win friends and influence people, mmmm only a step father.... , he has guardianship over the little one, what else can the guy do
Beat me to it Strop. There is also the major factor of love for your partner and what you are putting them through every time you climb into a race car.
Hamilton took the decision to carry on and lose Nicole. I think the wrong decision.
Or was it Nicole that couldn't take it anymore , i remember reading an article from a prev gf of Lavinia, who said he was a real control freak, its obviously a life choice Lavinia has made not to have a girlfriend/boyfriend/partner or whatever and that's fine, but i can still find it odd, if only for the poor mutt at home