Reigning Formula One world champion Lando Norris has secured his long-term future with McLaren, signing a contract extension that keeps him with the team until 2030. The agreement, announced on Saturday, also includes an option for further multi-year extensions beyond that date. This commitment arrives shortly after Norris claimed back-to-back victories at the Dutch Grand Prix, providing a significant boost to his current title defense efforts.
Norris, 26, made history last season by delivering McLaren’s first drivers’ championship since Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 title. His journey with the team began in their junior programme when he was just 17, leading to his F1 debut in 2019. Reflecting on the new deal, Norris noted that McLaren has become his home and expressed his desire to maintain the team’s winning momentum.
Contract and Performance Details
- Current Standings: Norris holds fourth place in the championship, trailing Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli by 83 points with 11 races remaining.
- Teammate Status: Oscar Piastri, Norris’s teammate, previously extended his contract at the start of the 2025 season, with his deal expected to run until at least 2028.
- Team Milestones: McLaren secured constructors’ titles in 2024 and 2025, breaking a drought dating back to 1998, though the team faced early struggles adapting to new regulations this season.
- Career Gift: As a gesture of appreciation, the team is gifting Norris one of the MCL39 cars he piloted to his maiden F1 title last year.
Team principal Andrea Stella praised the driver’s contribution, describing him as an integral part of the team’s success over the past nine years. Stella highlighted the strength of the partnership between Norris and Piastri, emphasizing that the team benefits from having one of the most united and consistent driver pairings in the sport. Following a difficult start to the current season, recent improvements to the car have allowed Norris to secure wins in Hungary and the Netherlands, signaling a strong resurgence for the team. The report also notes that “He is an exceptional driver, someone who combines outstanding natural speed with maturity, consistency and a strong commitment to McLaren, but above all, he is a special human being who is valued by everyone in the team.”.
Important Details
- The report also notes that “When I started this journey nine years ago, I was clear about the goals I wanted to achieve: to get McLaren back to the front and to win championships.
- The report also notes that “We’ve achieved that goal, but we want more, we want to keep on winning, and we know as a team that we’re capable of achieving it.”.
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