Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has confirmed that the team retains a long-term interest in McLaren Formula 1 drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri for the future.
Norris had been linked with a Red Bull drive alongside Max Verstappen until he elected to pen a multi-term renewal with McLaren on the eve of the current campaign.
Marko had lobbied to prise the British driver from McLaren’s clutches even before his F1 debut through a proposed seat with its sister side Toro Rosso back in 2018.
Prior to his recent extension, the Austrian, 80, had revealed last season that the Briton was a starring candidate on its list to take the incumbent Sergio Perez’s place.
But despite Norris not being a viable option for Red Bull in 2025, Marko has revealed that the McLaren ace, who has landed two podiums in 2024, remains a top target.
“He is young and certainly in our focus,” Marko told Austrian television broadcaster ServusTV.
“His father always jokes that Lando won’t celebrate his first grand prix victory until Max [Verstappen] retires.
“I told him that he had to come to us, then it would definitely go faster.”
According to Marko, Norris’ McLaren team-mate Piastri is also under consideration at Red Bull amid an impressive breakthrough season from the Australian last term.
Despite spending 2022 on the sidelines as a reserve driver, Piastri sustained a seamless transition to the series and scored two podiums plus a win in the Qatar Sprint.
But like Norris, Piastri also elected to pen a long-term deal with McLaren and is tied down through 2026, removing his name from Red Bull’s candidates for next season.
“Norris has at least a contract until 2026, so he is not an option in the short term, nor is Oscar Piastri,” he added. “But both drivers are certainly interesting for us in the future.”
