In a stunning revelation after the Italian Grand Prix, McLaren’s rising star Lando Norris has shed light on a surprising potential move to Red Bull Racing, one that would have seen him replace reigning F1 champion Max Verstappen. The British driver disclosed that Red Bull had made serious overtures to secure his signature, with a contract ready to go.

Speaking to the press, Norris expressed his disbelief at the situation, saying, “It was crazy to think about. I was just focused on racing for McLaren, and then suddenly, talks with Red Bull came up. What the hell is going on? It was a lot to process.”

Red Bull’s senior advisor, Helmut Marko, confirmed the news on the Inside Line F1 podcast, revealing that the energy drink giant had a contract ready for Norris to join its junior team. However, unexpected contractual complications halted the agreement, allowing McLaren to lock in the talented British driver.

Norris reflected on how different his career path could have been: “I love where I am with McLaren, but there’s always that ‘what if’ question. Red Bull is a top team, and to think I could have replaced Max – it’s mind-blowing. But right now, I’m happy fighting against him on track.”

This revelation adds an intriguing twist to the F1 driver market, with Norris continuing to cement his place among the sport’s new generation of stars while competing head-to-head with Verstappen.