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 stay with McLaren. This decision had a significant impact on the team, as noted by McLaren’s CEO. 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 remain with 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 boasts the youngest driver pairing 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. While this is an improvement from their performance in Bahrain in 2023, there is still a long way to go.
According to Norris, there is a significant difference between McLaren and Ferrari that needs to be addressed. After narrowing this gap, there is still a substantial distance to be reached in relation to Red Bull. Norris acknowledges that Red Bull and its lead driver are currently dominant in the sport.
It is crucial for the team to reduce this difference as much as possible to secure a position among the top three in the Constructors’ Championship. Although there are many strong competitors, Norris believes that McLaren will soon achieve success if they focus their efforts in the right direction.
