Jenson Button reveals the ‘issue’ facing Lando Norris in choosing his next move

Jenson Button has said Lando Norris would be “clever” to choose a car that suits his style in future, and the “issue” facing him in his quest for glory is that, to be the best, he will have to beat the best.

Norris has been linked with a move to Red Bull to partner Max Verstappen in future, with Norris himself admitting he would be open to the prospect one day and Red Bull motorsport advisorHelmut Marko fawning over the McLaren driver’s talent.

The McLaren driver is locked into a deal with his current team until the end of 2025, with CEO Zak Brown previously stating that there are no get-out clauses on either side, but that has not stopped the F1 rumour mill from linking the Briton with a move elsewhere.

Jenson Button: Lando Norris’ issue is he will have to ‘beat the best to be World Champion’

Button said he faced a similar scenario when he went off to battle against Lewis Hamilton in equal machinery at Norris’ current employers, with the 2009 World Champion facing off against the 2008 World Champion in the same team for 2010 and beyond.

The former McLaren, BAR and Brawn driver added that the option is there for Norris to stay where he is, but he could also face the difficult prospect of battling the reigning World Champion in what has been established as very much his domain over recent seasons.

“The issue is you have to beat the best to be a World Champion,” Button toldSky Sports News.

“And that was the whole thing for me when I left Brawn, I was like, ‘I have to go to McLaren because I need to race against Lewis Hamilton’, who was regarded as the best.

“And I think that’s what he’s got to decide he wants to do. I think if he’s clever, he will decide on a car that suits his style.

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“I think we’ve seen from a lot of drivers the Red Bull doesn’t suit many drivers, apart from Max, so it’s not an easy decision for him.

“He’s not in a car that can win right now, and it probably won’t next year either, I don’t think.

“So yeah, he’s got to be looking elsewhere for 2025, or he puts his trust in McLaren. You know, they’ve won races, they’ve won championships and it can come back around.

“So as long as he can see the future and think that they’re in a good place as a team and it gives him confidence, stay there. If not, go and fight Max Verstappen in his own team, but that’s a hard one.”

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