In a recent interview, Lando Norris, the young British driver, shared his thoughts on his contract extension with McLaren. This decision effectively eliminates the possibility of him joining Mercedes, despite their previous interest along with Red Bull. Norris, who is 24 years old, chose to solidify his loyalty to McLaren after achieving an impressive seven podium finishes.
The news of Lewis Hamilton’s upcoming move to Ferrari for the upcoming season initially seemed like an opportunity for Norris to join George Russell at Mercedes. However, Norris’s current contract extends until 2025, allowing him to comfortably continue his commitment without any immediate pressure.
When asked about any concerns regarding his contract extension, considering Hamilton’s surprising move, Norris expressed his contentment. In an interview with RaceFans.net, he stated, “I’m very happy. I could have waited, I had the choice. I knew opportunities were potentially coming my way.” Norris conveyed his confidence in his team and their achievements, as well as his satisfaction with his current situation.
Despite Norris’s consistent performance and 13 podium finishes over five seasons with McLaren, he has yet to secure a race victory. Reflecting on McLaren’s progress, Norris acknowledged that they had a decent car towards the end of the previous season and have taken positive steps in the right direction. However, he also recognized the significant gap between McLaren and Red Bull, as well as Ferrari, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement to compete effectively.
In an optimistic tone, Norris concluded by saying, “So there’s plenty of work for us to still try and achieve. But also plenty of things that we’ve learned over the last few days (during testing) for us to implement before next week (when the season begins in Bahrain).”
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1870340/Lando-Norris-McLaren-Mercedes-F1-news