Lando Norris has said his McLaren contract extension was an easy decision to make while the team is enjoying such success, suggesting he would be happy to eventually retire from Formula 1 as a one-team man.
The reigning world champion’s new McLaren contract, confirmed a week after his win at the Dutch Grand Prix, stretches through to 2030.
Norris signed to a McLaren developmental deal as a teenager and made his F1 debut for the team in 2019.
The Englishman’s extension continued the recent trend of top F1 drivers pledging their long-term futures to the teams which backed them from an early age -- Max Verstappen recently agreed a new Red Bull deal until 2030, while in May Charles Leclerc signed a Ferrari extension which reports suggest stretches until as far along as 2032.
Norris said it was a no-brainer given his recent success with McLaren.
“I don’t think many people decided to leave while the team was doing good,” Norris said when asked about the logic of tying himself down at one place for longer.
“I don’t think that was the case. When Lewis [Hamilton] left [McLaren in 2012] he left in a new era of Mercedes and he kind of prepared himself for when Mercedes were going to be very, very strong. I’m sure you get the idea about some of these things. It wasn’t like he was winning everything with McLaren and then was like ‘Oh I’m going to leave.’
“You know, I don’t think anyone decided to leave while being very successful. I feel like there’s no reason for Max [Verstappen] to leave. He knows that he has a team to win more championships [at Red Bull]. There’s no reason for Charles [Leclerc] to leave, he knows he has to win more championships with Ferrari.
“So, for me, I believe I can win world championships, more championships with McLaren. And there’s no reason for me to want to leave. So, I don’t think there’s anything more than that, honestly. Certainly for me, I would be very, very happy and proud to only be with McLaren my whole career. I don’t know if that might change, but that’s a perfect thing.”
Norris said the feeling he has internally stretches far beyond thinking they can win world titles, saying the environment feels like a second family.
“I guess it’s two big decisions for me,” he said. “One is, can I win world championships? Do I believe I’m with a team that can give me a car to deliver back for them, win races and world championships together? The answer is yes.
“And do I enjoy the company? Do I enjoy the people that I’m working with? And for me, this is pretty close in terms of almost 50-50, in terms being on an equal playing field so I do believe I can win with this team. I don’t want to go into a team maybe has an equal opportunity [to win] and do something new, I’d rather be in a team with people I enjoy spending time with and stay with the family which gave me the chance in Formula 1. I think there’s no reason to change.”
McLaren has both their drivers locked down on long deals -- Australian teammate Oscar Piastri has a deal until 2028.
Piastri was asked about his thoughts on Norris’ new deal and whether it had him thinking of negotiating an extension of his own and said he is in no rush, but said the news was positive for the team as a whole.
“No, I’m good for now,” he said in reply. “I mean, mine’s still for a while, so there’s no rush to get into those talks at all. But, I think it’s good, I’m not surprised at all, he won the championship for the team, we’ve won the constructors’ championship twice. Wasn’t surprised at all. I think it’s good for everybody.
“I think we’ve got a lot of the right pieces of the puzzle here at the team. And, you know, this year has obviously been a bit more difficult than the last couple. But, hopefully, we’re finding our feet again, being able to win races and fight for wins, at least.”
