F1 News: Lando Norris Talks Future With McLaren Amid Red Bull Rumours

Lando Norris dispels rumours about joining Red Bull, affirming his commitment to McLaren and his focus on winning championships with the team.

In the drivers' press conference ahead of the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix, Lando Norris addressed questions about his future with McLaren beyond 2025. Despite rampant rumours linking him to Red Bull, Norris reaffirmed his desire to stay with McLaren, focusing on winning both Driver and Constructor Championships with the team.

Key Takeaways

• Lando Norris confirms that he's in occasional talks with McLaren about plans beyond his current contract, which runs until the end of 2025. He emphasises his commitment to the team and states he is "very happy there."
• Norris has always said he wants to win both the Driver and Constructor Championships with McLaren. He indicates that the team is "getting closer and closer to achieving that."
• Amid speculations of a potential move to Red Bull in 2026, Norris clarifies that he is mostly concentrated on the present and the remaining two-and-a-half years of his current contract with McLaren.

When asked by Luke Smith of The Athletic about his future with McLaren, Norris responded: 

"Yeah. There are always things every now and then. I would love to. I've always said I want to win with McLaren. And I think we're getting closer and closer to achieving that.

"And not just to win races, but win championships, both Driver and Constructor. I want to do it with McLaren. I'm very happy there. So if I was to spend 10 or 15 years there I'm not going to ever say no. I think that's something I would look forward to.

"But I’m very much just concentrated on this year, next year and ’25. I think that’s two-and-a-half years to try and progress and we'll see then. But things [crop up] every now and then but nothing more than that."

The young British driver’s loyalty to McLaren comes amid multiple rumours suggesting he may join Red Bull in 2026 to drive alongside Max Verstappen. However, Norris made it clear that his focus remains on the time he has left on his current contract with McLaren. He stated that he is concentrating on "this year, next year and ’25," believing that this period is crucial for progression.

With his talent and increasingly consistent performances, Lando Norris is emerging as one of the most important figures in the driver market. Yet, his comments appear to dampen speculations of an impending switch to Red Bull. 

For now, Norris is intent on achieving success with McLaren—a team he has been with since his F1 debut.