F1 News: Lando Norris Reveals Real Reason For Signing Multi-Year Contract With McLaren

“There’s always been these discussions going on, on our future, and I think it’s a very good time, especially when it’ll be coming to a couple of years," he said.

McLaren driver Lando Norris signed a multi-year contract with his team, even though his existing contract had two years remaining. Thus, to clarify his stance, Norris revealed the real reason for signing a new contract with his team. 

Through the new contract, McLaren has announced its driver lineup for the upcoming era of new regulations in Formula 1, which includes Norris alongside his teammate Oscar Piastri. It was confirmed last year that the latter's contract would last until the end of 2026.

McLaren Press Image

When Norris was asked why he signed a multi-year contract when the old one still had two years to expire, he clarified to Formula 1.com that he and his team wanted to focus on more important things for the future, especially on the big change that arrives in 2026. He said:

“Because I can. I’m in a good position. It’s not something I want to worry about over the next few years.

“There’s always been these discussions going on, on our future, and I think it’s a very good time, especially when it’ll be coming to a couple of years when things start to get a bit more crazy with everyone else’s contracts and people potentially moving teams and things like that.

“And just going into 2026, and those years of the new regulations and everything, it’s not something I or the team want to be thinking of, or focusing on, or spending any time on in such an important couple of years.”

Binned Rumours

Moreover, amid speculation linking Norris to other teams on the grid, such as Red Bull, he conceded that while he found the rumors interesting to read, it wouldn't have been beneficial for his team to be confronted with them. Thus, it was important for him to prove his long-term commitment to McLaren. He added:

“I think for the whole team, everyone here, everyone at McLaren, that’s probably the most important thing, you know.

“I’m sure when you work here and you have one of your drivers and you see them getting linked to other teams, that’s just probably never an easy thing to see, and you probably question it at times.

“I think from my side, to get everyone here at McLaren just that bit more, you know, confident within me, and [it] shows my confidence in the whole team. I think that’s really the most important thing I’m happiest about with getting the contract out.

“They’re even more assured that I’m committed to the team and staying, and that I’ve picked McLaren over Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes, whatever team it could have been. They now have that reassurance that I’ve picked McLaren over all of them.

“I think it’s more for them than it is for myself and all these things, but I do enjoy seeing the rumours and the conspiracies every now and then – so, yeah, I think that’s the main reason for it.”

McLaren Press Image

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