F1 Rumour: Lando Norris Poised for Red Bull Seat - "More Than Capable"

With rumours of Sergio Perez potentially losing his seat at Red Bull, Lando Norris is the next favourite to take the reins.

This weekend at the Canadian Grand Prix, Sergio Perez will likely feel plenty of eyes looking his way as he attempts to lick the wounds created by his poor performance over the last couple of races. While Red Bull has openly stated that the Mexican driver's contract isn't under pressure, there will no doubt be rumblings within the team as they compare him to current leader Max Verstappen. 

Their car, the RB19, has the performance to lead every race so far of the 2023 F1 season, and it has done between the two drivers. But where Verstappen comes first, Perez must be finishing second, and this is something that he hasn't been able to consistently do so far. 

Now, with rumours of Perez's contract with Red Bull potentially being up for grabs, former Sky F1 pundit Johnny Herbert has given his opinion on who could take his seat. 

"If you want more competitiveness to Verstappen, you either need Russell, or Hamilton or Charles Leclerc or maybe Lando Norris," he said. 

Focussing on the current McLaren driver, he continued:

"Lando Norris has a long-term contract with McLaren and I don’t know if he has a performance clause in it to move from McLaren.

"I think it would be a good move for Red Bull. It would add positivity to the team and I think he is more than capable of being able to deal with that position [at Red Bull],"

Discussing the relationship and dynamic between Verstappen and Perez, Herbert was keen to admit that there will always be a number 1 driver in a team. 

"There is always going to be favouritism in a team because you know one of them will deliver and deliver consistently.

"As much as Sergio showed in the early part of the season that he was more than capable of mixing it with Max, there was then a point that he wasn’t.

"Like Schumacher, Senna, Mansell, Hakkinen, they are always able to get the best out of their equipment every weekend."

Having personally experienced the struggle of being in a team with F1 superstar Michael Schumacher, Herbert understands Perez's predicament. He noted: 

"In real terms, I would say he is under threat, but he is a very good number two. When he is on his game he can win. Even then he would be second or third and that will still enable Red Bull to win the Constructors’ Championship which is obviously very important."