Lando Norris signs new long-term F1 deal with McLaren

Lando Norris has committed his long-term Formula 1 future to McLaren after signing a multi-year deal that takes him beyond his existing contract, which was due to expire at the end of 2025.

Speculation over Norris' future has been rife over the past year, including links to Red Bull as a possible replacement for Sergio Perez, whose contract is due to expire at the end of this year along with those of several other drivers on the grid. of F1.

Norris had two seasons remaining on the contract he signed in 2022, but has now committed his future with McLaren beyond that period to include the early seasons of the sport's next regulatory cycle starting in 2026.

When asked why he committed to a new contract two full seasons before his contract expired, he replied: “It's not something I want to worry about over the next few years .

“There's always been these discussions about our future, and I think it's a really good time, especially when in a few years things start to get a little crazier with everyone else's contracts and potential people .moving teams and things like that.

“And as we approach 2026, and these years of new regulations and everything, it's not something that me or the team want to think about, focus on or spend time on in these two years too Yeah, just because I can, I'm comfortable, I'm happy with where I am, the team is happy with me so it's an easy decision.”

As was the case with the extension of Charles Leclerc's contract with Ferrari announced on Thursday, McLaren did not detail the duration of the new contract with Norris.

Asked why there were so few details, McLaren chief executive Zak Brown replied: “Because it's our business. Sometimes you discuss it, sometimes you don't.”

“The last time we discussed it was a bit more unusual, I think in general, just like Ferrari announced with Charles, you usually don't give a lot of details, so we don't see any reason to announce the details of anyone's contract.”

Discussions with Red Bull

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Norris revealed that preliminary discussions had taken place with Red Bull – which has reigning champion Max Verstappen until the end of 2028 and Perez until the end of 2024 – but stressed that such conversations between teams and drivers were completely normal in Formula 1.

“Everyone talks to everyone, every driver talks to every team, and it's not like everyone is just settling contracts, it's just about what a team can offer you and what another team can offer you and things like that,” the 24-year-old said.

“It's the same with every driver, everyone talks to every team, what could we do one day, but nothing progresses more than that, basically we stop pretty quickly, and of course you start to have some of these questions and you see some of it.

“Then you have internal discussions with Andrea [Stella, McLaren team principal] and Zak, with someone at McLaren, then you start talking about your own business and you want to put some of these rumors to bed because it's not a good thing. [thing] that the team continues to see day in and day out, which is why we made a decision so early and so quickly, I hope it puts these questions to bed.”

Why did Norris choose McLaren

Norris made his Formula 1 debut with McLaren in 2019 and competed in 104 grands prix with the team until the end of last year. Although he is yet to win a race, a significant improvement in performance at last year's Austrian Grand Prix yielded seven podium finishes during the season and saw Norris outperform all drivers, at the 'except for world champion Verstappen, from this race.

Norris said the progress made during the 2023 season was crucial to his decision and convinced him that McLaren is capable of winning world championships in the future.

“Every once in a while I would ask myself ‘are we improving as much as we should and am I giving myself the best opportunities etc.’” Norris said.

“There were always these little discussions that I had with my [management] the team and stuff like that, but with the way we changed things [in 2023] and how Andrea changed things, and how the whole environment is here now, that's a big thing that makes me lean towards McLaren.

“It's also a question of results: if we didn't score any podiums and we had a situation as bad as in 2022, there will be even more questions about whether I should wait until 2025 and see what happens. But with the way things have gone and what I think we have coming up, and the confidence I have in the team over the next couple of years, and the refresh In 26 where so much is changing, there really aren't many other things that you can be guaranteed or assured of with any team.

“At the same time, it comes down to where will I be happiest? And now where am I most confident that I can win a world championship. If you had asked me at the beginning of last year, that It might not have been McLaren, but now I think I'm more confident than ever in saying it will be McLaren.”

Norris' teammate Oscar Piastri signed a new contract with McLaren last year which will keep him with the team until the end of 2026.