McLaren and Norris announce multi-year contract renewal

Lando Norris and McLaren have put pen to paper on a “multi-year contract renewal” seeing the #4 set to remain with the team “beyond the 2025 season”.

Norris is no stranger to long-term commitment with McLaren, signing an earlier deal back in February 2022 which saw him proudly donning the papaya colours until the end of 2025.

This upcoming season will be the young Brit’s sixth season in Formula 1, having started his journey with McLaren back in 2019.

Norris poses with his team for the McLaren team photo in Abu Dhabi. Image: Zak Mauger / LAT Images.

“I have got far enough into my career where I need to decide where the best place for me to be is right now to score the best results, to win races, to win Championships,” Norris said.

“Now is the time in my career that I need to make those decisions.”

“That decision was to remain here and remain part of McLaren. It was a big one, it was a big decision for me, but I think it is good for the whole team that they know that I still want to be here with them and to continue my story with them.”

Norris recorded a milestone of 100 Grand Prix race starts at last year’s United States Grand Prix, just one of many accolades the 24-year-old accumulated across his finest season to date in the sport.

2024 saw Norris claim six second-place finishes, a third-place finish in Qatar, and two Sprint race podiums across the season.

Norris shared the podium with Sir Lewis Hamilton in a breakout weekend at the British Grand Prix. Image: Steve Etherington / LAT Images.

Crossing the line in Abu Dhabi, Norris’ points tallied to a total of 205 points, seeing him end P6 in the WDC standings while helping McLaren, alongside rookie teammate Oscar Piastri, secure P4 in the Constructors’ Championship.

What makes these achievements even more impressive was McLaren’s sub-par form in the early stages of the season.

The team admittedly struggled with the MCL60 up until a breakout weekend in Austria, with the improvements derivative of a restructured aerodynamic department according to Team Principal, Andrea Stella.

Lando Norris at the Austrian GP in July. Image: Zak Mauger / LAT Images.

According to Norris, the community at the Woking-based team “definitely played a part in terms of wanting to win with McLaren”.

“As much as I just want to win the championship and I want to succeed on my own, it is more exciting and there is more of a story behind it if you can win with a group of people that you started something with.

“To continue to work with Andrea and with my engineers and mechanics is one of the most important things.”

When considering such a long and significant contact at a pivotal stage in his career, the #4 said “there were two aspects” to consider.

Lando Norris with his team on the Abu Dhabi GP grid. Image: Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images.

“Firstly, ‘Am I having fun and am I enjoying where I am?’ And then, ‘Do I have a good enough car, good enough people, and good enough surroundings to make the results I really want to happen, happen?’

“I think we’ve got that bit and the rest of it is down to me personally.

Always one to sing praise for his drivers, McLaren CEO Zak Brown is “delighted” to continue McLaren’s relationship with Norris.

“It’s been a fantastic journey over the last six years, and he has shown fantastic commitment and desire to push the team forward and get McLaren back to the front of the grid,” Brown said.

“Last season we saw the fundamental role Lando played with the impressive turnaround in results and I’m looking forward to continuing this push forward together with lots more podiums.”

McLaren has secured the Norris-Piastri lineup until at least the end of 2026. Image: Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images.

Stella, too, was excited to see the lineup of Norris and Piastri continuing until at least the end of 2026.

“Lando has grown as a driver and a person since initially joining McLaren in 2017,” Stella said.

“He impressed last season, playing an important role in our progress throughout the year, securing seven podiums with many fantastic drives.

“Alongside Oscar, our exciting driver pairing will play an instrumental part in our objective to move towards the front of the grid.

They have impressed in their first season together and I’m looking forward to continuing the hard work with them both on this exciting journey.”

With McLaren investing significantly into infrastructure, including a new wind tunnel and a new generation simulator at the McLaren Technology Centre, and new hires, the team is looking to build on the foundations of long-term success heading into 2024.

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