During a recent interview, Lando Norris, the young British driver, shared his thoughts on extending his contract 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 next season initially seemed like an opportunity for Norris to join George Russell at Mercedes. However, Norris’ current contract extends until 2025, allowing him to comfortably continue his commitment without any immediate pressure.
When asked about any concerns regarding the extension of his contract, considering Hamilton’s surprising move, Norris expressed his satisfaction. In an interview with RaceFans.net, he stated, « I am very happy. I could have waited, I had the choice. I knew opportunities could arise in my path. » Norris conveyed his confidence in his team and their achievements, as well as his contentment with his current situation.
Despite Norris’ 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 took positive steps in the right direction. However, he also recognized the significant difference between McLaren and Red Bull, as well as Ferrari, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement to compete effectively.
With an optimistic tone, Norris concluded by saying, « So, there is still a lot of work for us to try to achieve. But also many things we have learned in the past few days (during testing) to implement before next week (when the season starts in Bahrain). »
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1870340/Lando-Norris-McLaren-Mercedes-F1-news
