Button: "If not go and fight Max Verstappen in his own team"

"This issue is you have to beat the best to be a world champion. That was the whole thing for me when I left Brawn, I had to go to McLaren because I needed to race against Lewis Hamilton. Who was regarded as the best", the one-time world champion told Sky Sports.

So where does Norris wise up? "I think that's what he has to decide that's what he wants to do. I think if he's clever he's got to decide on a car that suits his style. 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 is not in a car that can win right now, and it probably won't be next year. I don't think so. So he's got to be looking elsewhere for 2025 or he puts his trust in McLaren."

McLaren or another team after all?

Still, there is a good chance Norris will still be racing for the Woking-based racing stable in 2025. After all, the 23-year-old driver still has a contract with his current employer until the end of that season. It is well known that drivers often do build performance clauses into their contracts, which may make it possible to swap McLaren for another, more competitive team sooner.

After a difficult start to the season, Norris' team is back on track. Closing the door behind you at McLaren now could also be a bad choice, Button claims. "You know they've won races, they've won championships and it can come back around. As long as he can see the future, and feel 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."