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 chose to remain at McLaren. This decision had a significant impact on the team, as noted by the CEO of McLaren. Norris’ signing of a multi-year contract was a surprise, as he was highly sought after by Red Bull and other teams. His choice to stay at McLaren surprised many in the industry.
Norris’ contract extension came shortly before news of another driver moving to Ferrari in 2025. After being with McLaren since his debut in 2019, Norris will now continue with the team for a few more years. The CEO expressed great satisfaction with this, as McLaren now has the youngest driver duo in Formula 1. Discussing the impact of Norris’ decision on the team, Zac Brown stated:
“With the team preparing for the new regulations in 2026, McLaren has secured contracts with [driver’s name] and Norris that will run until the end of 2026. We are pleased that both drivers have shown confidence in McLaren as we await the new regulations.”
Norris, who recently signed a multi-year contract with McLaren, believes the team needs to make an extra effort to remain competitive. In this year’s Bahrain Grand Prix, McLaren’s drivers finished in sixth and eighth place, respectively. Although this is an improvement from their performance in Bahrain in 2023, there is still a long way to go.
Segundo Norris, existe uma diferença significativa entre a McLaren e a Ferrari que precisa ser abordada. Após diminuir essa diferença, ainda há uma distância substancial a ser alcançada em relação à Red Bull. Norris reconhece que a Red Bull e seu piloto líder estão atualmente dominantes no esporte.
É crucial para a equipe reduzir essa diferença o máximo possível para garantir uma posição entre os três primeiros no Campeonato de Construtores. Embora haja muitos concorrentes fortes, Norris acredita que a McLaren em breve alcançará se direcionar seus esforços na direção certa.
