F1 champions5/16/2023 Meanwhile, McLaren rookie Oscar Piastri was out in Q1 and didn’t finish Sunday’s race because of an electrical issue. On the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, Norris barely made it into Q2 after setting the same time as Williams rookie Logan Sargeant. The Woking-based team recorded the least amount of laps compared to the rest of the grid. Preseason testing could have been better. The 23-year-old signed a contract extension last year that’s through 2025, and according to former team principal Andreas Seidl, “there’s no get-outs on both sides.” The speculation, though, stems from a rough start to 2023. Out of all of the drivers, Norris’s immediate future is likely clearer than some make it out to be. And even team principal Toto Wolff was pressed about the seven-time world champion on Friday.įormula One may have just started, but the driver silly season is back after a tumultuous round in 2022, leaving the evergreen question of ‘is there loyalty in F1?’ And the early questions Norris and Hamilton face may signal a dramatic next few contract years if the grid shakes up. He also took the chance to shut down the rumor mill about his spot with Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton had to answer questions about whether he’d ever win a race again, given that he hasn’t won a grand prix since late 2021. Granted, vacancies would need to arise for any move.īut Norris wasn’t the only driver forced to address his future ahead of the second round of a 23-race schedule. McLaren missed development targets during the winter break and had a rough outing at Bahrain that saw Oscar Piastri retire early and Norris finish last among the drivers still competing at the end of the race.įollowing the Bahrain Grand Prix, media chatter began about whether Norris would look elsewhere, possibly at Ferrari, Red Bull, or Mercedes. Speculation about whether Norris would stay or leave began circling again as the Woking-based team started the season on the back foot.
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