Norris 'feeling the heat' from F1 star after Rosberg's "switch coming" claim

06 September 2023 , 05:00

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Lando Norris has only ever raced for McLaren in F1 (Image: HOCH ZWEI/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)

Lando Norris has been accused of "feeling the heat" in Formula 1 amid speculation he's set for a stunning switch to Red Bull in 2024.

Norris was eighth in Sunday's Italian Grand Prix, as he continues to battle back from a torrid start to the F1 season. His latest top-10 finish leaves him eighth in the standings on 79 points, having achieved just two podium placings this year in Britain and Hungary.

But he can be considered fortunate to have made it to the chequered flag, after being involved in a minor collision with McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri. The incident left team boss Andrea Stella seething, with him later ranting it was "unacceptable" for two team members to make contact on the track.

Piastri himself is beginning to show the form that prompted McLaren chiefs to sign him from Alpine in eye-catching fashion last year, now sitting on 36 points. And, although he only finished 12th at Monza after also making contact with Lewis Hamilton, one former F1 driver thinks the Australian is beginning to pressurise Norris.

"Norris is definitely feeling the heat from a really good rookie this year," Joylon Palmer told the BBC. "Piastri was at fault for their small touch but they got away with it and, thankfully for McLaren, they didn't have damage – unlike the Piastri and Hamilton touch which was what ended Piastri's chances of points today.

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"So they got away with it from a team point of view and I think Norris is feeling some heat from Piastri, who's doing a really good job." But former Renault driver Palmer also said that Norris clearly remained the team's No 1: "I still think Lando has got the upper hand at McLaren," he added.

Early last year, the 23-year-old signed a lucrative new deal with the British team, tying him down until the end of the 2025 campaign. And upon putting pen to paper, he outlined his ambition to help the team challenge for a world title.

Norris and Piastri clashed on track at Monza (HOCH ZWEI/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)

But despite the sport's new era of regulations, designed to make racing more competitive, Norris has been way off the pace set by front runners Red Bull. Indeed, he's still waiting for his first F1 win after 96 Grand Prix starts.

However, he has been linked with a future move to Christian Horner's team with world champion Max Verstappen admitting the two friends had discussed the prospect. And Sky pundit Nico Rosberg lit the torch paper in Italy when he said: "Where's he [Norris] going? Next year already, I hear there's a switch coming."

The rumours have been exacerbated by the undeniable tension between Verstappen and current team-mate Sergio Perez. The stumbling block would be the current contract of Norris though, which would leave Red Bull needing to pay a handsome sum to get him released prematurely.

Fraser Watson