F1 teams fight over rising star dubbed the 'Jude Bellingham of motorsport'

29 September 2023 , 16:56

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Lando Norris is one of F1's brightest young stars (Image: Getty Images)

Audi could join the race to sign Lando Norris when the carmaker enters the Formula 1 world.

The German manufacturer will officially join the grid in 2026, at the same time as new engine rules come into force. It will not be a new team added to the grid, but a fresh start for the Sauber outfit currently racing under Alfa Romeo branding.

It remains to be seen which drivers will be available for 2026. But Audi has already begun its search for stars – understands talks have been held with Carlos Sainz, whose Ferrari contract expires at the end of 2024.

And Norris could be another racer on Audi's radar as his McLaren deal runs to the end of the 2025 season. His current team will be desperate to keep hold of him while there is already plenty of interest from Red Bull.

Reporting on Sky Sports, F1 correspondent Craig Slater suggested Audi may join that race for the 23-year-old's signature. He said: "Lando Norris, he's the Jude Bellingham of Formula 1 in transfer terms. If he were a footballer, I think he'd be in the £100million category. He's young, he's talented, he's marketable as well.

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"Consider another couple of factors – he is McLaren's senior driver now, he is in his sixth year at the team. Five years as an F1 driver, but he had been in development terms before that as well. He's the leader of the team.

"Are McLaren ready to let him go? Absolutely not. Is there a team out there that desperately needs to sign Lando Norris? Well, maybe not right now. Ferrari seem to be well enough covered; Mercedes look like they'll continue to work with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for the years ahead; Max Verstappen is firmly ensconced at Red Bull.

"Audi could be interested in a couple of years' time. When they come into Formula 1, they will want a big name to be the face of their team. Might Lando Norris fit the bill in that regard? Might he link up again with his former boss at McLaren, Andreas Seidl? But a lot of depends on where McLaren are at in a couple of years."

Audi would face intense competition from Red Bull. Team principal Christian Horner said this week of the Brit: "Lando is a great driver – he's a big talent, big personality and of course he’s one of those drivers that you keep an eye on."

And McLaren intend to ward off all interest in their star by convincing him to sign a contract extension. "We're certainly having conversations with Lando. They are good conversations, we are happy with how these conversations are going," said team boss Andrea Stella.

Daniel Moxon