Lando Norris was the first of three drivers to make a significant decision regarding their contracts in 2024. Alongside Oscar Piastri and Zak Brown, Norris had the opportunity to join any team for the 2026 season, but ultimately chose to remain with McLaren. This decision had a significant impact on the team, as noted by McLaren’s CEO. The signing of a multi-year contract by Norris came as a surprise, as he was highly sought after by Red Bull and other teams. His choice to stay with McLaren astonished many in the industry.
Norris’s contract extension came slightly earlier than the news of another driver’s move to Ferrari in 2025. Having been with McLaren since his debut in 2019, Norris will now continue with the team for several more years. The CEO expressed great satisfaction with this, as McLaren now boasts the youngest driver duo in Formula 1. When discussing the impact of Norris’s decision on the team, Zac Brown stated:
“With the team preparing for the new rules in 2026, McLaren has secured contracts with [driver name] and Norris that will run until the end of 2026. We are pleased that both drivers have shown confidence in McLaren as we look forward to the new regulations.”
Norris, who recently signed a multi-year contract with McLaren, believes that the team needs to put in additional effort to stay competitive. In the Bahrain Grand Prix this year, McLaren’s drivers finished in sixth and eighth place respectively. While this is an improvement from their performance in Bahrain in 2023, there is still much ground to cover.
According to Norris, there is a significant gap between McLaren and Ferrari that needs to be addressed. After bridging that gap, there is yet another substantial distance to catch up with Red Bull. Norris acknowledges that Red Bull and their leading driver are currently dominant in the sport.
It is crucial for the team to reduce this gap as much as possible in order to secure a top-three position in the Constructors Championship. While there are many strong contenders, Norris believes that McLaren will soon catch up if they direct their efforts in the right direction.
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