Time is really running out for McLaren. The only real hope they have for a championship bid is Lando Norris. However, it won’t be prudent to assume that the young Brit will wait forever, hanging on to every word Zak Brown has to say. The fact is this; McLaren has until the end of the 2025 F1 season. Why’s that? Well, the Woking-based team has tied Norris down until then. Once that deadline is done, Norris can leave, if he wants to.

Norris never really hasn’t voiced his intentions to leave. That being said, the slump of form the team is enduring has left the 23-year-old frustrated at times. With 2023 already a foregone conclusion, Brown has just two years to salvage Norris.

Zak Brown shifts the goalpost yet again

In 2021, Brown declared that by 2024, McLaren would have no excuses to not be the front-runners. Yet, in 2023, they do. Now, in light of their recent misery, the American has decided to shift the goalpost yet again.

The Evening Standard quoted him as saying, “I think we will have everything we need for the 2025 season. So, the only thing we won’t have in 2025 is time together. What do you need? Two great drivers — we think we have those (Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri). The right structure — we think we have that. You need the right people — we’ve identified that and we’re still hiring.”

“Everything will be in place by the middle of 2024, which doesn’t bring much benefit until 2025.”

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There does seem to be a sort of urgency in Brown’s tone. And there is a pretty good reason behind that, too.

Brown reveals Lando Norris’ exit clause

Norris is arguably the biggest asset in Formula 1 right now. And McLaren are holding onto him by a very thin string. But while Norris may be getting impatient, there is good news and bad news for the Woking-based team.

Brown revealed to Sky, “He has zero exit clauses.” However, “Ultimately, when his contract is next up, if we are not performing and he doesn’t feel he can win races and can compete for the championship, then I think anybody, driver or team member for that matter [would be considering leaving], we are all here to win.”

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Will Lando Norris ditch McLaren for greener pastures in 2026?